Africa-Press – South-Africa. My poverty killed my friend. If only I had money, my friend’s life would have been spared.”
These were words uttered by an emotional Siphumelele Langa during the memorial service of the 16 people killed at Mdlalose Tavern in Nomzamo Park, Orlando East.
Langa said he arrived after his friend, Luyanda Mjoli, 19, and his eldest brother, Sithembiso Mjoli, 34, were shot.
The two later died.
“I arrived at the tavern and saw many dead bodies. Luyanda was alive at the time. He was crying for help. I asked motorists who were rushing the injured to the hospital to take my injured friend too, but they refused.
“They asked me for money before taking him. I told them I didn’t have money. They refused to help. He would be alive if he was taken to the hospital on time. If I had money in my pocket, I would have paid for transport to rush him to the hospital. My poverty killed my friend.”
Nomzamo tavern massacre: ‘I don’t know how my life was spared’ – eyewitness
A woman, who identified herself as Leah, said she last saw her live-in lover, Nhlonipho Mbanjwa, 31, on Saturday morning.
“I left to go plait my hair. On my return, Mbanjwa was not at home. On my arrival home, I was told that people had been killed at the tavern. I was afraid to go to the tavern.
She said:
“He didn’t return that night. The following morning, I learnt that he was among the people killed at the tavern. I am hurt and broken. I hope his killers would be found,” she added.
Earlier in the day, a group of men driving behind a hearse stopped outside the tavern carrying Mbanjwa’s body.
They performed their rituals and drove off.
The men later said they were transferring Mbanjwa’s body to a morgue in Mzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal, where he would be buried on Sunday.
The majority of the mourners are from Mzimkhulu.
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The speakers at the memorial service called for the arrest of the gunmen.
Carrying pictures of the dead, they told of the pain caused by the shooting.
“We are hurt as people from Mzimkhulu. We have lost our brothers. As people from Mzimkhulu, will we allow such a situation again? Are we going to accept this tragedy? We were never taught not to sit down and do nothing. Our people mustn’t be buried before we know [who] their killers are,” a man, who identified himself as Nzimande, said.
Another man, who identified himself as Sifiso Sosibo’s brother, added the way his brother died had torn apart his heart.
Mourners claimed some of the victims sustained bullet wounds to their heads and chest.
A woman carrying Daliwonga Mluma’s body asked what wrong the deceased had done to be killed that way.
“We have been complaining for far too long to our government about the violent situation in Nomzamo Park. How many more [people] must die before we are heard? We are killed on our way and back from work. How much blood must be spilt here before the government intervenes?
“My brother’s wife is alone. The government must ensure that before we bury our people, their killers must be found. They [the killers] have committed a horrible incident,” she said.
Soweto tavern shooting: ANC accused of turning memorial service for victims into political rally
The event was organised by the ANC, which left many mourners angry.
They complained they were not given enough time to remember their loved ones.
After a few members representing some of the families had spoken, they started vacating the place.
They were angered by the chanting of slogans at the event which they claimed was not politically related.
The main table was draped in ANC colours, and behind regional, provincial and national leaders stood the party’s banner.
The majority of those who spoke were from ANC structures.
Some mourners questioned where the party was when the shooting occurred.
They also felt excluded from participating by being prevented from singing hymns and traditional songs.
ANC members, accompanied by Gauteng Infrastructure Development and Property Management MEC Tasneem Motara, distributed food parcels using an ANC-branded van to some families of the victims.
EFF regional secretary Muzi Tshabalala thanked the ANC for organising the event and giving him an opportunity to speak.
He was accompanied by a handful of EFF members carrying three flags.
Tshabalala called for the arrest of the perpetrators.
He said:
“Community members once stoned a police van. We must all take responsibility. This happened because of our doings. It doesn’t mean when one van was stoned [here], the police mustn’t come here.
“They (police) can’t punish the entire community. Police say they don’t enter Nomzamo Park. We ask our police, the community and political leaders to discuss why the police don’t enter this place,” he said.
ANC Gauteng secretary Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza added: “The ANC is a leader of the society. The ANC is the one that has organised this memorial service. You can’t ask us a question as to why the ANC organised this memorial.
“The ANC stronghold [is] in this area. That’s why there are so many people here because they know that the door-to-doors done here were because of the ANC.
“The community accepts and understands and knows the work of the ANC. Even when the ANC is doing good, you want to find bad in it. We are here to mourn with our people. Allow us to do so.”
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