By Celani Sikhakhane
- Escalating tribal clashes in kwaMusi and Onyango, sparked by a school incident, have claimed 28 lives, with residents demanding police action and leadership changes.
- Protesters accuse authorities of biased interventions, highlighting fears, disrupted schooling, and ongoing violence spreading to Gauteng hostels.
Tribal clashes in kwaMusi and Onyango that began in a local school have escalated, leading to at least 28 deaths and continuing violence.
On Monday, after the arrest of suspects including a Grade 12 learner, members of the kwaMusi community staged a protest at Ulundi SAPS calling for the cancellation of newly appointed district commander Major General Jabu Khumalo and the return of Major General Thulani Gonya.
The protest was led by the Izwi Labantu non-profit organisation.
According to a memorandum that was delivered to the police on Monday afternoon at the SAPS Cluster offices, they want Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to urgently intervene and address the community.
They want KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to withdraw the deployment of the feared new district commander. They want a review of 28 murders in their village.
They claimed that in an operation conducted in their area soon after the appointment of Khumalo on 18 October five suspects were arrested with illegal firearms. The suspects are believed to be involved in the clashes that have killed many people in the Onyango and KwaMusi communities.
The leader of Izwi Labantu, Norma Mbatha, claimed that the operations by police are only focusing on kwaMusi Village but not at Onyango, which makes people doubt police intervention.
The battles have even extended to Gauteng hostels.
Mbatha told Scrolla.Africa that whether people in kwaMusi village are being killed at 7pm or 3am, the police are failing them.
“Police always called the kwaMusi community members into meetings to discuss these clashes but after the meeting, one or two kwaMusi people would be killed. When Major General Gonya was still the district commander he listened to us and understood the fear we are facing in the area. That is why we call for his return because we are being killed every day,” said Mbatha.
She said that women are even scared to go and fetch water or firewood in the forests.
Schools are closed and the matric pupils have been taken to Phongolo.
Men are sleeping in the mountain as the killing spree that started at Sihlahlasenkosi High School after pupils stabbed each other continues unabated.
Pictured above: The Community of kwaMusi in Nongoma are facing a bloody Christmas as the killings continue; on Monday they staged a protest demanding action from the KZN police commissioner and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Source: Supplied
