Durban - The mother of a KwaZulu-Natal traditional chief has been shot dead in her home in Dlebe, near Ulundi, the provincial safety department said on Wednesday.
The 71-year-old woman was killed in the early hours of Tuesday morning, safety MEC Willies Mchunu said.
Chief Sibusiso Ndebele, the local traditional chief of the Ndebele community, claimed he heard gunfire near his homestead in the early hours of Tuesday morning but ignored it.
“However, in the morning, (he) found that his mother Thandi Ndebele, who was sleeping with two grandchildren, had been killed,” Mchunu said in a statement.
The children were unharmed.
Mchunu expressed shock and condemned the incident.
“This is shocking indeed and one is baffled at the murder of the senior lady,” said Mchunu.
“We condemn this murder in the strongest possible terms. However, at this stage we will await the full report on the murder from the police before we comment any further,” said Mchunu.
The provincial government extended its condolences to the Ndebele family. - Sapa