By Hajira Khota
14:09:2021

After the murders of three women in a drive-by shooting over the weekend, Police Minister Bheki Cele will visit Inanda in Durban on Tuesday. Cele will be given a detailed report on the incident by the SAPS management team before visiting the deceased’s family homes and the murder scene.

The attack occurred when people were voting for the African National Congress candidate who would represent their ward in the upcoming local government elections.

Ncami Shange (34), Beatrice Nzama (60), and Philisiwe Jili (37) died on the spot. During the shooting, five people were injured and sent to the hospital.

One of the survivors now fears for her life after surgeons failed to extract a bullet lodged in her body.

Brigadier Jay Naicker of the KZN SAPS said a group of individuals was standing at the front door of Buhlebethu Elementary School in Newtown C in Inanda. “A black Opel Corsa bakkie with five people is said to have driven by the school. According to witnesses, the vehicle’s occupants fired handguns at the crowd before departing”.

Following a recent visit by a team led by KZN ANC provincial chairperson Sihle Zikalala, the decision to offer assistance was made. During the visit, it was determined that the afflicted families were experiencing financial difficulties.

Cele is due to visit the area and speak with the police management team, where he will be updated on the continuing investigations, including the status of any arrests.

The ANC condemned the act as senseless and demanded that the perpetrators be apprehended, while the provincial government described the shooting as an attempt to sabotage democracy.

“The news of a drive-by shooting that has claimed the lives of three women at Inanda township in Durban has been received with shock by the police ministry,” says police spokesperson Lirandzu Themba.

The purpose of the attack is unknown; however, it is suspected that it was politically motivated, despite the lack of official evidence to support this view. Inanda police are investigating three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.