Victims hailed as heroes as suspect arrested over killing of Qumbu community patrollers

A 33-year-old man, whose identity may not be published because investigations continue, appeared in the Qumbu Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 10 October 2024, after he was charged with the murders and attempted murders of a group of community patrollers in the rural Eastern Cape town.

On Sunday, 6 October 2024, at about 11pm, eight men, all members of the community policing forum, prepared for their night patrol at a local school in Tina Falls, Qumbu. They were confronted by a group of men who were armed with rifles and handguns, who opened fire on them.

Six people died on the scene and four others were seriously injured and admitted to hospital. 

Read more: Six die as community policing forum members are ‘ruthlessly ambushed’ days after SAPS ‘roadshow’ in village

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said they have not uncovered a motive for the shooting at this stage. Residents, however, are linking it to stock theft in the area.

Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene said they would do their best to make sure all those responsible for the mass shooting were arrested.

The arrests were made shortly after a meeting between Mhlontlo Local Municipality mayor Mbulelo Jara, Mhlontlo municipal manager Lungile Ndabeni and the deputy director-general of the Office of the Premier Mahlubandile Qwase in Qumbu on Thursday.

“No words can adequately express how we feel about this incident,” Jara said. 

He said that because of incidents in the recent past he cannot rule out the possibility that the shootings were related to stock theft.

“The motives of the incident are because of stock theft, as we all know that the whole of Mhlontlo, in fact [the entire] OR Tambo District, is confronted with this problem of stock theft. There have been several killings taking place before this one all over the district. Even here, the root cause is always stock theft,” he said.

The police have meanwhile released the names of those who died in the shooting: Amos Sombaba (71), Akhona Sotshongaye (40), David Marhole (52), Fezekile Mhlekwa (56), Mathanzima Thomsana (57) and David Vabaza (65). 

Qwase said they have agreed with the families of the deceased that they will hold a mass funeral on 19 October.

Jara hailed those who died in the mass shooting as heroes who deserve to be buried in a dignified manner, adding: “We are also making calls for intervention by the private sector and NGOs to extend their solidarity and offer any assistance they can offer. So that we bury these heroes in a dignified manner.”

Qwase said: “We regard them as heroes because they died executing the law, assisting the police in crime prevention.” DM