Residents of Dube in Soweto have resorted to prayer after 11 people were found murdered in their kasi in a space of three weeks. They held a prayer session last night pleading with God to deliver them from the unknown killers. 

WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

A member of the Dube Neighbourhood Watch, Ntswaki Phadi said it was disheartening to discover lifeless bodies in their ward almost every three days. In the last three weeks, eleven bodies of both men and women were discovered in different parts of the township mostly near the train station. Some of the victims were found with stab wounds while others had gunshot wounds. Ntswaki said they are meant to be providing the community with some protection, but they, themselves were scared. "Our job hasn’t been an easy one lately, it’s just been one dead body after the other. We are also scared because we don’t know who the killers are or what their motive is but all we know is that the people of Ward 38 are being killed brutally," said Ntswaki.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS HELP 

She said theirs is to make sure that there are patrollers in the morning from 4AM to escort all those who commute to work early. "At the rate that things are going, people fear that they will leave their homes to help others but never make it back. That is why we’ve decided to source help from Soweto Parliament because, in all honesty, it is known that we are not armed." A woman who only wanted to be identified as Nonkululeko told ZiMoja that she lives in constant fear. She added that she commuted to work very early in the morning and leaving her home is a daily frustration. "Yes we do have patrollers but they are unarmed. The killers can come and attack us and it could be the end of us. Families have lost loved ones but they don’t get solid updates from the police, it’s just sad that we have to live like this. Everyone knows that if they can, they need to be indoors before it gets dark," Nonkululeko said.

IT NEVER ENDS

The latest incident was that of a woman in her 20s who was found with her throat slit next to the Dube hostel. SAPS spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said a murder investigation was launched. Asked if they were aware of the constant killings in Dube, Masondo said: "A number of cases have been opened, however, no suspects have been arrested for any of the murders. We ask the community not to lose hope in the police as we are doing all we can, to bring to book whoever is responsible for all this brutality," said Masondo.