The community of Emadlangeni in Utrecht outside Newcastle in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) is reeling in shock after a local female induna was shot alongside three others on Sunday. Nonina Mahlaba (42) of the Shabalala Traditional Council in Emadlangeni was attacked in her home while with her son and her son's friend.

It is alleged that unknown gunmen entered the induna's home and shot her and her children who were in the yard at the time of the incident. Mahlaba was shot and killed together with her son Thando Mahlaba (22) and Thando's friend Asanda Zikhali (19). A neighbour, Shonaphi Mbatha (50) who came out of her house when Mahlaba screamed for help was also shot dead. MEC for KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi has condemned the brutal murder of the four people. "It is with profound sadness that we have been informed of, yet another act of violence directed towards one of our traditional leaders Induna Mahlaba. According to the information we have gathered, four people lost their lives during this disturbing act," Sithole-Moloi said. 

It is alleged that Mahlaba was shot and killed in an incident that has been affiliated with an ongoing squabble over her position in the area. Induna Mahlaba was allegedly a trusted ally of the late Inkosi Siphamandla Khumalo. Inkosi Khumalo and his wife, Queen MaDlamini Khumalo were assassinated in October last year near Utrecht while they were travelling with their children. "It is deeply troubling that defenceless women and young men lost their lives in this manner. We commend the bravery of the neighbours who tried to help the Mahlaba family during this harrowing ordeal," Sithole-Moloi said. She also extended her condolences to the families of the deceased. "We are also deeply concerned that this attack occurred just a few months after we lost Inkosi Khumalo and uNdlunkulu maDlamini from eMadlangeni who were also killed in a similar incident. Such disturbing incidents are instilling fear in our communities and threatening the stability of our traditional leadership institutions. We urgently call upon law enforcement agencies to investigate this matter thoroughly in order to serve justice to the affected families," she added.