Two people have been killed and five are fighting for their lives in hospital after being shot at a hostel in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni. It's alleged that there is an ongoing fight between hostel dwellers at the Ehlanzeni Hostel that has been going on for months. One person was shot dead over the weekend while the second one was shot last night. The other five who were shot on Saturday are fighting for their lives in hospital with gunshot injuries. It's alleged that the men who were shot on Saturday were sitting outside Block K, when they were attacked by gunmen in a Toyota Quantum. Yesterday, a 32-year-old man was shot dead inside the hostel between Block W and Y. The man's brother who was sitting with him before the shooting managed to escape unharmed.
FACTION FIGHT
It is alleged that the faction fight is between groups from Nquthu and Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal. According to a hostel dweller who wished not to be named, as he fears for his life, the ongoing fight is between men from Msinga and Nquthu. "What is making matters worse is that they are hunting one another with guns. Izinduna from both places must come and try to make peace between these people because this is getting ugly. Already there are people who have lost their lives while others are fighting for their lives. My fear is that this fight will not end here in Ehlanzeni, other hostels will join this war," he said. The man said it was unclear how this faction fight began as Nquthu and Umsinga are kilometers apart. "It is only Amakhosi and Izinduna who can end this fight. What is more worrying is that they kill each other inside their hostels and what makes it easy to get to one another is the fact that there is only one entrance here. They see when you are entering the premises and go after you to finish you at your place," he said.
THE DECEASED MAN
It was established that the deceased man was previously attacked by a group of unknown men in a minibus taxi but survived a hail of bullets. The unknown suspects came back to finish him off on Monday. Tembisa South SAPS Station Commander, Colonel Nthipe Boloka confirmed the incident. "Cops were informed by hostel Indunas that this is a feud between the group of people from Msinga and Nquthu in KZN but did not clearly tell what might be the bone of contention. A backup from neighbouring stations afforded the opportunity for the women and children who wanted to be escorted out of the hostel and seek asylum with their friends and relatives. The Public Order Police from Springs under the command of Warrant Officer Mabule is monitoring the situation over the night though it is currently stable," he said. Boloka added that the hostel is under police guard and two Nyalas have been deployed inside and outside the premises.
