What was meant to be the best day of Lehlohonolo Maliaga’s life as she tied the knot with her long-time partner, Prince Maliaga, turned into a nightmare when her son was gunned down in a killing spree that claimed the lives of seven people.
Her joy was cut short when armed thugs spoiled the wedding, opening fire and killing two people, including Maliaga’s son Philani Dlamini, in Tshepisong on the West Rand, at about 5.30pm on Saturday.
The killings happened moments after four people were gunned down in a house next door. Another man, Joseph Nkuna, was also shot and killed at the wedding.
Recalling the fateful day, Maliaga said: “I woke up in the morning thinking this would be the best day of my life. My husband and I have been together for 24 years and we were celebrating our anniversary by having a white wedding. I did not think that the sun would set with Philani dead.”
The distraught newly weds said the celebrations were halted abruptly as they frantically attempted to rush Philani to hospital after he was shot in the neck.
“My son did not know anything when he was shot. He had not done anything. Those boys opened fire and shot randomly at people and my son was one of them. I am heartbroken and I do not know who the culprits are. I feel guilty because my son was here to help me celebrate my wedding,” said Maliaga.
Four people – Sam Makwane, Mashudu Nemilili, Carlos Sithole, and Sharon Mutle – were the first victims in the path of the attackers. They were ambushed while sitting in the garage at Makwane’s house. Seven armed men pounced on the group and shot at them numerous times.
Tshepo Ncube, an eyewitness, said: “They came here in a Toyota Quantum and stepped out of the car. Four of them entered Sam’s house and then I heard gunshots. I was with my friends and we all ran for cover because we were not sure what was happening.
“After some time, I saw Carlos running out of the yard. He did not know that three of the other men were waiting outside and they shot him as he ran away. They walked up to him and shot him in the head after he fell down. Then they opened fire randomly before they drove off.”
The gunmen shot Makwane eight times before shooting his girlfriend, Mutle, once in the head, Nemilili numerous times and finished off Sithole as he was running for his life.
When Sowetan visited the house where the four people were killed, family members were seen cleaning up pools of blood and attempting to wrap their heads around the shooting.
A teary-eyed Lerato Kote said she did not know why her husband, Sithole, was killed.
Kote believes Sithole was at the wrong place at the wrong time as he had visited his cousin, Makwane, at the time of the shooting.
“We found him dead on the streets because he was running away when they killed him. Sharon was here to see Sam because they were dating and she was shot in the head when she attempted to close the small gate from which the attackers came through,” said Kote.
Syliva Monakale said her community has been harassed by illegal miners, known as zama zamas.
“The community said that the boss of the zama zamas was killed last week and that they wanted revenge for his murder and that they won’t stop until they find who killed him. The community is scared at the moment and we need more policing visibility,” said Monakale.
A resident who asked not to be named said the attack was retaliation for the murder of a leader belonging to a gang that operates in the area.
“These guys who came here were looking for Sam, Mashudu and another guy who lives up the road [not among those shot]. A couple of weeks ago, we heard that they had a fight with another group and someone died,” said the resident.
Gauteng police spokesperson Col Brenda Muridili could not confirm the claim but said they were investigating the motive. “We have not made any arrests yet. We do not know the motive but that will form part of our investigations.”
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