A senior traditional leader, 71-year-old mam’uNogcinile Mtirara of Mqhekezweni village, South Africa, was shot and killed by masked assailants on the night of Tuesday, October 29, 2024. Mtirara was related to former president Nelson Mandela and was the granddaughter-in-law of AbaThembu King Jongintaba Mtirara.
Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, a police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that Mtirara was attacked in her royal home at Mqhekezweni Great Place, located in the Bityi administrative area.
In a separate but equally troubling incident, five Grade 12 students from Jongintaba Secondary School in the same village were raped. The victims are all in their early twenties.
Zolile Williams, the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the province, expressed his shock and urged law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate and apprehend those responsible for these heinous acts.
“The wave of violence in the Eastern Cape has reached unprecedented levels,” Williams stated. “Attacks on traditional leadership are not only assaults on these institutions but also on the state itself, as traditional leaders play a crucial role in governance. We will track down the perpetrators, no matter where they hide.”
Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene, the provincial police commissioner of the Eastern Cape, assured the public that police are working tirelessly to apprehend those responsible for both attacks.
A murder case has been officially registered, and a team, led by provincial detectives from the Serious and Violent Crimes unit, is already on the scene, alongside SAPS forensic experts.
Regarding the rape incident, the provincial head of the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offenses Investigations unit has mobilized a team to investigate and capture the offenders. Mawisa stated, “Both investigation teams will leave no stone unturned to ensure that justice is served.”
Williams condemned the recent surge of rapes against vulnerable young girls, asserting, “This must come to an end. Enough is enough.”