McKeed Kotlolo

McKeed Kotlolo

At least nine people in the highveld area of Mpumalanga, including a Pakistani businessman, have died violently since the long weekend started on Friday.

Etha Sankal, 56, owner of Mawala Supermarket, at Vlaklaagte No.1, woke at about 3.30am when he heard a window pane shatter in his shop.

Constable Winnie Mabena said: "He was confronted by four armed men who demanded cigarettes and cash. He handed them a cigarette carton and R800 in cash.

"They demanded more cash and when he said it was all he had they fired four shots at him, hitting him once in the chest."

Mabena said Sankal's younger brother, who was sleeping in the same room, managed to escape.

"Before they left, the gunmen inserted a hosepipe through the window and water flooded the bloodied room," she said.

Also at Vlaklaagte, a 23-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man believed to be her boyfriend on Sunday .

Two policemen responded to a call from the local clinic and were shown the body of the victim.

Investigations led to the man's girlfriend, who claimed the he had assaulted her and she had used a beer bottle to defend herself.

Joyce Zenzile Ngwenya, 45, of Doornpoort, Middelburg, was found dead in her bed with liquid oozing from her mouth at about 8pm on Sunday. She was neatly covered with a blanket and there were no visible injuries, said Superintendent Malcolm Mokomene.

Mokomene said the police found a protection order in her bedroom.

Two murders at taverns were reported at the weekend.

Amos Masango, 26, was stabbed to death at Ndala tavern, KwaMhlanga, and a 20-year-old was arrested.

A man identified as Willie Rasta, age unknown, was shot in the face and died instantly at Masakhane tavern, in Blinkpan. No arrests haves been made.

Four people died in a head-on collision at Leeuwfontein, near Vaalbank.