Everson Luhanga
On Friday 16 April at 2am a gang of eight heavily armed men broke into nine houses in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg.
One man was shot dead, and residents were robbed of their TVs, laptops and cell phones.
Later that same morning, three other families were robbed using the same tactics.
Then on Thursday, Alexandra police station head Brigadier Lindiwe Magudulela confirmed another incident of 10 heavily armed men who attacked families at gunpoint, robbing them of their belongings.
Police suspect it’s the same gang, but don’t yet have proof.
The community of Alexandra is calling on the South African National Defence Force to be deployed in their community to control the situation.
Khathu Makovhololo is a landlord where the men robbed his tenants on Friday 16th.
He said the incident took place around 2am. “My wife woke me up telling me that there is a strange noise in the yard. When I peeped through the window, I saw men with guns and picks breaking into my tenants’ rooms. One of my tenants was shot dead,” said Khathu. The tenants had their phones and TVs stolen.
Ntanganedzeni Manenzhe said she was asleep next to her 17-year-old sister when she woke up to two men in her room demanding their phone.
She said the incident was like a dream. “We have no idea why the men went on this rampage.”
Police spokesman Sergeant Simphiwe Mbatha said police are investigating cases of murder, attempted murder and robberies.
