By Everson Luhanga
Seven people have been shot and killed and another seven have been injured and taken to hospital — so far.
The notorious Tembisa hostel in Ekurhuleni has become a bloody battlefield with faction fighting destroying the always uneasy calm, leaving terrified residents to seek protection from the authorities. Some have fled for their lives.
The fights have attracted the attention of the Amakhosi and iZinduna, while the police try to mediate peace between the two fighting groups.
Sources at the hostel told Scrolla.Africa that the fights were a result of a disagreement between people originally from uMsinga and Nquthu in KwaZulu-Natal. But traditional leaders claim the friction is caused by criminal elements.
Speaking outside the hostel after a meeting on Sunday, the chairperson of Ekurhuleni Hostels, Kusakusa Gabela said: “The situation appears to be calm after a meeting held in the City of Johannesburg with traditional leaders from the uMzinyathi District in KZN. About seven people have been killed so far.”
The chairperson of Induna in Tembisa, Siphiwe Mhlongo said: “The fight between Nquthu and uMsinga is orchestrated mostly by zamazamas and clashes in the taxi industry.”
Mzobanzi Ngubane, prime minister of the Mabomvini tribal authority in uMsinga said: “In fact there is no fight between Nquthu and Msinga people. It’s criminals who are involved in this fight.”
uMzinyathi district mayor Petros Ngubane said: “The business sector is worried that this fight may cripple our economy in uMzinyathi. Even the Zulu Royal family is very much concerned.”
Timeline:
Saturday 27 May 2023
Six people are shot by unknown gunmen while sitting outside Block K. One of the victims dies at the scene while five of the men are hospitalised with injuries resulting from the shooting.
Sunday 28 May 2023
A man is shot dead inside the hostel between Block W and Y.
Monday 29 May 2023
A 32-year-old man is shot and killed. His brother manages to escape unharmed.
The shooting prompted the intervention of the Tembisa South police head Colonel Nthipe Boloka to meet with the hostel indunas on Monday 29 May.
In the meeting, the indunas told the SAPS representatives the feud was between two groups of people originally from uMsinga and Nquthu in KZN.
The hostel leadership however could tell the officers clearly what the bone of contention was.
Trying to contain the bloodbath, police backup from neighbouring stations are called in to monitor the situation. Two police Nyalas are deployed inside and outside the hostel which allows some people to pack and leave the hostel and seek accommodation with friends or relatives.
Sunday 4 June 2023
Izinduna from different parts of Gauteng and KZN come to the Enhlazeni hostel to mediate peace between the two groups.
Tuesday 6 June 2023
Gauteng top police officials raid the hostel.
In a statement, the provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the raid was one of the many operations the officials conducted.
“The police collaborated with different law enforcement agencies and private security companies through the Eyes and Ears (E2) project with the aim of stamping the authority of the state on the situation and ensuring safety for the communities of Gauteng,” said Nevhuhulwi.
Kusakusa Gabela the chairperson of izinduna in Ekurhuleni speaking outside the Nhlanzeni hostel in Tembisa on Sunday.
Photo: Supplied
