Durban -
A Durban woman queueing for her monthly grant unwittingly ran into a hail of bullets during an armed robbery because she was partially blind, her shocked relatives said.
Phumaphi Zondi, 60, and two Fidelity security guards were killed on Friday at the Lindelani community hall, a pension and disabilities pay point near Ntuzuma in Durban.
Zondi had joined the queue to collect her disability grant when a group of armed men opened fire on the guards.
Police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, confirmed that the two Fidelity guards died later at a local clinic. Zondi died at the scene.
“Three other people were injured during the shooting and were taken to hospital,” he said. One of the injured was another Fidelity security guard who has since been discharged.
Zondi’s distraught sister-in-law, Nikiwe Zondi, told the Daily Newson Sunday that
Zondi had gone to the hall with her 38-year-old son, Siyabonga Zondi, who was also collecting his disability grant.
“They usually went together as he had to hold her hand because she could no longer see well,” she explained.
“Apparently they had then queued, but not in the same lines.”
Nikiwe said she was told that when the bullets went off most people started running, while some lay on the ground.
“Because Phumaphi could not see where the robbers were, she ran in their direction and was shot in the stomach. She died immediately,” Zondi said.
She said Siyabonga had not known that his mother had been killed and had still managed to get his grant before people who knew them found him and told him.
“Since that day he has not taken his medication because his mother was the one who knew how he took it. We can’t even find his pills and he is not okay at all,” Nikiwe said. “She was always there for him.”
Nikiwe said that when her husband heard about the shooting at the hall, he tried to call Zondi to check on her.
“When he called her phone, it had first just rung, until a woman picked up and told him to rush there. Because he was too far away, I went there and found Siyabonga sitting in a car,” she said.
“It was only then that I heard that she (Phumaphi) had been killed.”
Nikiwe said the family was in shock.
“Phumaphi had gone to collect her pension as usual. No-one expected that she would not make it home and now Siyabonga has lost his mother. We are hurting a lot,” she said.
Nono Xaba said her mother, Gladys, who was one of the three hurt in the shooting, was still in a lot of pain after being wounded in the chest.
“When we went to see her in hospital on Saturday, she was not looking good and could not even eat,” she said. “However, we are very thankful she is alive, because there are others who lost their lives during this incident.
“We are just waiting for her to recover so that she can tell us what happened. All she is saying is that she was shot while trying to run away from the bullets,” she said.
One suspect was arrested at the scene, Zwane said.
“The other suspects escaped in their getaway car, taking with them the security guards’ firearms. However, no money was taken,” he said.
South African Social Security Agency spokesman, Vusi Mahaye, said the incident had prompted them to look at other ways to enhance security.
“This has never happened before and after this incident we want to ensure it never happens again,” he said.
Mahaye said agency officials had since visited all the affected pension and grant beneficiaries or their families.
“All those who were not injured on the day received their pension. For the injured we will pay them on Monday. Our officials will go to them so that they get their pension,” he said.
Police are investigating three cases of murder, three of attempted murder and one of armed robbery. The arrested man was expected to appear at the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court today.
The Fidelity Security Group could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
Daily News