Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane urged law enforcement agencies on Sunday to pull out all the stops in their search for the killers of four family members in Ngcobo.
DispatchLIVE reported that the victims, aged between 39 and 77, were brutally gunned down as they were preparing to re-bury their parents in Qutubeni early on Saturday.
Their bodies, riddled with gunshot wounds, were found lying in a pool of blood at the graveyard where they were preparing for the ceremony when four gunmen opened fire on them.
Two other people survived, though one was seriously injured.
Mabuyane sent his condolences to the grieving relatives and wished the survivors a speedy recovery.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless killing of people,” he said.
“We call on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book.
“We cannot allow incidents like this — community members live in fear because of violent crimes happening in their backyards. These have no place in this province.”
In July, Mabuyane and the National Assembly’s co-operative governance & traditional affairs portfolio committee chair, Fikile Xasa, met the villagers of Qutubeni in an attempt to find ways to curb the escalating crime in the area.
The area is notorious for high numbers of murder cases, many allegedly linked to stock theft.
Mabuyane urged all stakeholders to work closely to combat crime in the area.
“Civil society organisations, citizens and the government must work together in the fight against the complex crimes affecting the safety and security of communities.
Mabuyane appealed to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the Ngcobo police station or call Crime Stop on 08600-10111.
DispatchLIVE
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