Faction fighting erupts in Ezakheni
It appears that so-called ‘faction hitmen’ are targeting each other
A low-intensity ‘faction war’ has erupted in the Ezakheni and Quinisa area, with at least six people having been killed so far. At least four people were killed in two separate shootings in Ezakheni last week alone.
While police have not officially confirmed that the deaths are related, at least three of the dead were shot and killed on Friday afternoon in a single incident. The three men were shot and killed in a vehicle in Ezakhnei E-Section. According to police, the vehicle they were in was riddled with bullet holes. All three men were hit multiple times. Police named the deceased as 51-year-old Mbongi Lukhele, 35-year-old Muthuleni Mbatha and 28-year-old Senzo Duma.
In a separate incident on Sunday afternoon, three men were shot at. Two were injured, while the third, 34-year-old Lungisani Duma, was killed.
Adding to this death toll is at least one earlier incident in which three people were shot in Ezakheni three weekends ago, leaving two dead.
It is believed that a special task team is being formed to combat faction fighting in the Ezakheni/Quinisa area.
It is unclear what sparked the initial attacks, but currently, it appears that so-called ‘faction hit-men’ are targeting each other.
