The son of a defiant elderly Tsolo woman, who made headlines earlier this year when she resisted eviction from municipal land, has been killed in violence related to the housing dispute.
Mlindeli Mkhamba, 53, was killed on Friday night when a group of people attacked residents of the Chris Hani informal settlement and torched their shacks and a vehicle.
Despite the death of her son, MaDosini Mkhamba, 93, said she was more determined than ever to fight the forced removals from the settlement, where she has lived for 21 years.
It is believed Mkhamba was killed in a revenge attack after residents had fought off a group who they said attacked them on Wednesday afternoon.
“A group of people came here and wanted to attack MaDosini, but we fought for granny and they escaped,” said community leader Phathuxolo Mbana.
The Mkhamba family is one of eight families defying an order to move from the Chris Hani informal settlement in Mhlontlo Municipality to make way for an RDP housing development.
Residents of the Chris Hani informal settlement are split into two groups, one led by Mbana – which is fighting the eviction – and a second led by Photsho Nkomo, which has already moved from the settlement to Azania Village to make way for the RDP project.
Yesterday seven supporters of Mbana’s group appeared in the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court facing charges of assault relating to an alleged attack last week on Nkomo. The case was postponed to March 17 and the accused are out on warning.
Thirty minutes after their appearance six men from the Nkomo group appeared in the same court for the murder of Mlindeli and on arson charges.
The case was postponed to March 10 for a formal bail application and the accused were kept in custody.
The asthmatic MaDosini said she was lucky to be alive.
“I hid in the shrubs and amazingly, cattle who were grazing hid me as the assailants were attacking other people. They were very close to me.”
Makhamba was found at about 4am on Saturday in a pool of blood about 50m from their shack.
Speaking on behalf of the Nkomo group, Nomaweza Dlame said they were concerned.
The RDP project was scheduled to start in January but has been delayed because of the infighting.
Both Mhlontlo Municipality and the police were unavailable for comment at the time of writing. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Gogo’s son killed in horror attack
Mlindeli Mkhamba, 53, was killed on Friday night when a group of people attacked residents of the Chris Hani informal settlement and torched their shacks and a vehicle.
Despite the death of her son, MaDosini Mkhamba, 93, said she was more determined than ever to fight the forced removals from the settlement, where she has lived for 21 years.
It is believed Mkhamba was killed in a revenge attack after residents had fought off a group who they said attacked them on Wednesday afternoon.
“A group of people came here and wanted to attack MaDosini, but we fought for granny and they escaped,” said community leader Phathuxolo Mbana.
The Mkhamba family is one of eight families defying an order to move from the Chris Hani informal settlement in Mhlontlo Municipality to make way for an RDP housing development.
Residents of the Chris Hani informal settlement are split into two groups, one led by Mbana – which is fighting the eviction – and a second led by Photsho Nkomo, which has already moved from the settlement to Azania Village to make way for the RDP project.
Yesterday seven supporters of Mbana’s group appeared in the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court facing charges of assault relating to an alleged attack last week on Nkomo. The case was postponed to March 17 and the accused are out on warning.
Thirty minutes after their appearance six men from the Nkomo group appeared in the same court for the murder of Mlindeli and on arson charges.
The case was postponed to March 10 for a formal bail application and the accused were kept in custody.
The asthmatic MaDosini said she was lucky to be alive.
“I hid in the shrubs and amazingly, cattle who were grazing hid me as the assailants were attacking other people. They were very close to me.”
Makhamba was found at about 4am on Saturday in a pool of blood about 50m from their shack.
Speaking on behalf of the Nkomo group, Nomaweza Dlame said they were concerned.
The RDP project was scheduled to start in January but has been delayed because of the infighting.
Both Mhlontlo Municipality and the police were unavailable for comment at the time of writing. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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