A teenager was stoned to death after a fight sparked by a scramble for water in a drought-ridden rural village in KZN.
Qiniso Mhlongo, 15, of eMacekeni was stoned to death allegedly by a group of youth from eHlathini Elidumayo village in Nongoma on Tuesday.
It is alleged that Mhlongo was struck to death after trying to rescue his three sisters who were being harassed by youths who accused them of contaminating water from a stream in the area of eHlathini Elidumayo.
The young men demanded sexual favours from the three young women, to compensate for the unspecified pollution of the water.
They allegedly forcefully fondled the women and kissed them.
Annoyed by what was being done to his siblings, Mhlongo allegedly intervened but was overpowered and stoned to death by her sisters' attackers.
His aunt Nomathemba Nhlenyama who was visibly shocked relayed the horror: "The girls came running and informed us that Qiniso was being attacked.
"When we reached the river the boys who had attacked him had already left.
"He had lost a lot of blood and judging by the way he was crying, he was in a lot of pain. His forehead was badly damaged. We phoned the ambulance but it didn't come."
Local councilor Nkosinathi Nzimande said the incident had shocked the community.
"Never in our wildest dreams have we thought such gruesome killing over water would occur in our area. This is really a terrible deed which should not go unpunished," he said.
Nzimande said the community's source of water Osuthu River had run dry, forcing the community to travel long distances to draw water in a fountain located in the mountains.
Police spokesman Jay Naicker confirmed the incident, saying two men aged 16 and 25 had been arrested for the crime.
KwaZulu-Natal has been identified as one of the provinces worst affected by drought. Rivers in many areas have completely dried up, while water in dams has dropped to critical levels.
The districts of Zululand and iLembe, and many parts of the south coast, have been dealt the heaviest blow by the drought and residents have been buying water from private suppliers at a hefty price.
The water and sanitation department has since allocated R352-million for drought relief .
Boy stoned to death over water
A teenager was stoned to death after a fight sparked by a scramble for water in a drought-ridden rural village in KZN.
Qiniso Mhlongo, 15, of eMacekeni was stoned to death allegedly by a group of youth from eHlathini Elidumayo village in Nongoma on Tuesday.
It is alleged that Mhlongo was struck to death after trying to rescue his three sisters who were being harassed by youths who accused them of contaminating water from a stream in the area of eHlathini Elidumayo.
The young men demanded sexual favours from the three young women, to compensate for the unspecified pollution of the water.
They allegedly forcefully fondled the women and kissed them.
Annoyed by what was being done to his siblings, Mhlongo allegedly intervened but was overpowered and stoned to death by her sisters' attackers.
His aunt Nomathemba Nhlenyama who was visibly shocked relayed the horror: "The girls came running and informed us that Qiniso was being attacked.
"When we reached the river the boys who had attacked him had already left.
"He had lost a lot of blood and judging by the way he was crying, he was in a lot of pain. His forehead was badly damaged. We phoned the ambulance but it didn't come."
Local councilor Nkosinathi Nzimande said the incident had shocked the community.
"Never in our wildest dreams have we thought such gruesome killing over water would occur in our area. This is really a terrible deed which should not go unpunished," he said.
Nzimande said the community's source of water Osuthu River had run dry, forcing the community to travel long distances to draw water in a fountain located in the mountains.
Police spokesman Jay Naicker confirmed the incident, saying two men aged 16 and 25 had been arrested for the crime.
KwaZulu-Natal has been identified as one of the provinces worst affected by drought. Rivers in many areas have completely dried up, while water in dams has dropped to critical levels.
The districts of Zululand and iLembe, and many parts of the south coast, have been dealt the heaviest blow by the drought and residents have been buying water from private suppliers at a hefty price.
The water and sanitation department has since allocated R352-million for drought relief .
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