Durban - A long-standing feud between a son and a father from Mahlabathini near Ulundi ended in tragedy when the son shot and killed his father and three neighbours who had been called to help resolve the disagreement on New Year’s Day.
The incident happened in Ogodweni village at eDlebe in Mahlabathini.
The father and the son had clashed over the ownership of cattle in their kraal and the son also wanted the father to take some cows back to their owner, who had asked the family to look after them on his behalf.
The 33-year-old man who was arrested on Sunday fired shots at eight men who were in a house where a meeting had been held.
His father, Bhubesi Ntini, 60, and neighbours Mandla Zungu, Fana Dlamini and Thamsanqa Ntshangase died at the scene.
Four neighbours who were part of the meeting are in a serious condition in hospitals.
Police spokesman Thulani Zwane said the man faced four counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder, and was expected to appear in the Mahlabathini Magistrate’s Court soon.
“During the investigation a 9mm pistol with one live round was also recovered. It will be taken for ballistic tests,” he said.
The man’s sister and Ntini’s daughter, who did not want to be named, said even though the two often quarrelled, what happened on New Year’s Day came as a shock.
“There was no need for what happened because what they were on about was not worth a person’s life,” she said.
The sister said the cattle of her brother and father were in one kraal and whenever the two had an argument about anything the father would tell the brother that he had to leave and build his own home. The brother was married and his wife and children lived in the same yard with his parents.
“After a series of arguments, my brother finally agreed to move out, but he asked Dad to give him his share of cattle. Dad refused,” she said.
Although the sister could not confirm the exact number of the cows in the kraal, she said there were so many that they lost count.
“But I know that my brother did buy a herd of cows and they were mixed with our dad’s herd.”
They would also argue about other things.
“They would fight over small things. They did not get along,” she said.
Another argument that fuelled the tension, she said, was the brother’s request that his father send back cows that had been kept at their kraal for another cattle owner.
“Brother said he did not want our children to herd cattle that were not ours, but Dad said that would never happen,” she said.
The sister said on Thursday, December 31, her brother called a meeting with his father and other family members to discuss the two issues, but no resolution was found.
“Dad called another meeting on January 1, but with neighbours this time around, and that is where the killing happened.
“The neighbours took my dad’s side and that must have angered my brother. He went out of the house as if he was going out for a smoke and when he returned he did not say anything, he started shooting,” she said.
“No one went out of the house. One of them who tried escaping died at the doorstep.”
She said after the shooting, her brother walked about the yard as if he had lost his mind and then disappeared.
“What he did shocked us. It was out of character. It is shocking because usually when he disagreed with Dad he would just pack his bag and go back to Joburg where he was working. He would come back after a month. He never held grudges,” she said.
The sister said the situation in the community was tense.
“It is bad for my mom; it is like she has died. I even wish she had also passed on because the condition she is in is unspeakable. She keeps asking how she is going to look at the neighbours who have lost their husbands and fathers,” she said.
Safety and Community Liaison MEC Willies Mchunu said he was shocked that a dispute could end in the loss of lives and injury to others.
“We are disgusted by this senseless shooting and we welcome the swift arrest.”
Funeral arrangements have not yet been concluded.
The Mercury