Durban - Three people were killed a few hours apart at the volatile KwaMashu Hostel on Thursday.
The deaths of the three people follow that of another 25-year-old unidentified woman who was shot dead on Tuesday at the hostel at Block 36.
Thobile Ntuli, 43, was shot dead in front of her shack in Block 198, while Phumlani Masuku, 25, and his girlfriend, were shot dead while they were sleeping in their shack in Block 338.
The Daily News’s sister paper, Isolezwe, said it was suspected the killings were as a result of a battle over beds and this has led to fears from the community that this will lead to revenge attacks and more deaths.
The deaths come just weeks after Police Minister Nathi Nhleko visited the notorious hostel in an attempt to call for peace in the area.
Khulekani Zulu, 30, Ntuli’s boyfriend, said he feared he would be the next one to be killed. He said his cousin had been gunned down recently at the hostel.
“I went to visit Thobile only to find her lying dead in front of her room,” he said.
“She was bleeding and there were open bullet wounds to her chest. I found her lying there dead with no one in sight, which is because perhaps they were also scared, because people said they did not see anything, all they heard were gunshots,” he said.
“I really don’t know why people are being killed like this. I am scared to walk around here in the hostel because I don’t know if I am next,” he said.
Zulu said Ntuli was a known loan shark in the area and also sold cigarettes.
Unnamed sources said Ntuli’s brother - who had apparently recently been arrested by the police - was believed to be a hit man who had killed many in the hostel. Her death is a suspected revenge attack by a rival faction.
The claims could not be verified.
Police spokesperson, Major Thulani Zwane, confirmed police were investigating four murder dockets. He said the murders were being investigated.
Daily News