A family in the Umzumbe area is reeling after a horrific suspected robbery on New Year’s Eve claimed the lives of four family members, casting a pall over the community and igniting urgent calls for improved policing.
The incident occurred at a homestead in the village, where an attacker allegedly stormed the property. According to reports, a 45-year-old man was shot and killed in one building. The assailant then proceeded to another structure on the same property, where he killed a mother and her two daughters.
The victims have been identified by family as a brother, two sisters, and their mother—described as the elders and leaders of the home. The brother was reportedly the head of the household. A fiancée of the deceased man and children present at the time survived the attack.
Local Umzumbe Municipality Councillor Khulekani Msomi, who has been interacting with the bereaved family, described the incident as unprecedented in its scale but symptomatic of a rising tide of violent crime in the area.
“A massive incident like this has never happened in this area. However, there has been a buildup whereby there has been deaths here and there that are taking place as a result of a similar nature,” Msomi stated. “We cannot say we are surprised that it happened but the nature is too much. It’s way above what we thought.”
Councillor Msomi directly linked the deteriorating security situation to a severe lack of resources at the local Mamba police station. He explained that a single police vehicle is tasked with servicing four vast traditional councils, making effective patrols nearly impossible.
“We are in a space where we are a ticking time bomb that will explode at any time,” he warned, appealing to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for immediate intervention to bolster manpower and equipment.
He detailed a grim series of recent unsolved crimes, including the murder of a young girl who was found naked and dumped last week, a man bound with cable ties and dumped in a pit toilet, and a woman killed in a similar manner.
The Speaker of the Umzumbe Municipality, who was also present, confirmed that municipal and provincial government support would be mobilised for the grieving family. A visit by the mayor and leadership is scheduled for Monday to coordinate funeral assistance.
On the critical issue of policing resources, the Speaker acknowledged the severe challenges. “It’s very bad. It’s not a good situation,” he said. “We believe that if we’ve got enough resources we would have been able to fight against these kind of crimes.” He committed to engaging with SAPS and provincial authorities to advocate for improved services in Umzumbe.
The motive for the New Year’s Eve killings remains unclear, with investigations ongoing. Family members indicated there had been concerning phone calls prior to the attack, but authorities have not released further details.
The tragedy has left the family in shock, grappling not only with their loss but also with the sudden burden of arranging four funerals. As the community mourns, local leaders are demanding that long-stalled plans to upgrade the under-resourced Mamba police station be urgently revived to prevent further bloodshed.