Two feuding sections of the village attacked each other this week
RESIDENTS of Mvezo village, the birth place of Nelson Mandela, are living in fear after violence erupted this week leaving one person dead and others seriously injured.
Twenty-six men from the village arrested in connection with the violence appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing various charges ranging from murder, assault GBH and defeating the ends of justice.
They were released on a R500 bail each and the case was postponed to March 7.
The violence erupted on Sunday when two feuding sections of the village – upper Mvezo and lower Mvezo – attacked each other.
The same night young men from the lower section of the village allegedly attacked Bandayo Sommango, 59, from the upper section.
Sommango was allegedly hacked with an axe and beaten with knobkerries. He sustained injuries to his head and body.
The following night (Monday) youth from the two feuding sections fought again and Vusumzi Silima, 28, from lower Mvezo was killed.
It is alleged seven villagers from both sections have suffered brutal attacks, including a 30-year-old woman who claims to have been beaten up twice.
“I have been assaulted and beaten twice by men and boys from lower Mvezo. They beat anyone who goes near the section. I suffered injuries on my hand and leg,” said Phumla Macubhuka.
It is not immediately clear why the two sections are fighting. Villagers from both sides told different stories but said the violence had forced some of them to flee at night and sleep in nearby forests.
All, however, said the violence had its roots in the past and had been going on for many years.
Mvezo’s traditional leader, Nkosi Mandla Mandela, the grandson of former state president Nelson Mandela, said he didn’t know what started the violence but supported police investigations into the matter.
“We support police investigations into the matter and it also has the blessing of the Mandela family. What we don’t want are people taking the law to their own hands,” said Mandela, who took over reins at the village in 2007.
Since the violence erupted young men from upper Mvezo feared for their lives if they reported for work at the village’s multi-million development project taking place in the lower section.
Villagers fear the violence could interrupt the re-opening of schools next week.
People told a Daily Dispatch team visiting the village this week that they were living in fear, but residents from both sections claimed innocence when asked who was responsible for the the violence.
They said village life had been affected as stores and taverns closed earlier and people were scared to venture out at night.
Some had even resorted to fleeing their homes while others gathered into groups for safety and slept in one place.
Young men were patrolling their respective areas villages in fear they would be invaded.
Sommango said he was attacked after chasing a youth who threw three stones at this house and broke windows. His nephew, who was with him at the time, was also stabbed while his two sons are among those arrested for murder.
All villagers including the dead man’s uncle Mavuyo Nompoko, want the violence to end.
“This is caused by young men and boys and all those who have been instigating the violence have been arrested. We are relatives... This is painful because it’s our children... they don’t have the same mentality as us,” he said when asked if he was scared following the death of his nephew.
Daily Dispatch
Residents of Mandela birthplace live in fear
Two feuding sections of the village attacked each other this week
RESIDENTS of Mvezo village, the birth place of Nelson Mandela, are living in fear after violence erupted this week leaving one person dead and others seriously injured.
Twenty-six men from the village arrested in connection with the violence appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing various charges ranging from murder, assault GBH and defeating the ends of justice.
They were released on a R500 bail each and the case was postponed to March 7.
The violence erupted on Sunday when two feuding sections of the village – upper Mvezo and lower Mvezo – attacked each other.
The same night young men from the lower section of the village allegedly attacked Bandayo Sommango, 59, from the upper section.
Sommango was allegedly hacked with an axe and beaten with knobkerries. He sustained injuries to his head and body.
The following night (Monday) youth from the two feuding sections fought again and Vusumzi Silima, 28, from lower Mvezo was killed.
It is alleged seven villagers from both sections have suffered brutal attacks, including a 30-year-old woman who claims to have been beaten up twice.
“I have been assaulted and beaten twice by men and boys from lower Mvezo. They beat anyone who goes near the section. I suffered injuries on my hand and leg,” said Phumla Macubhuka.
It is not immediately clear why the two sections are fighting. Villagers from both sides told different stories but said the violence had forced some of them to flee at night and sleep in nearby forests.
All, however, said the violence had its roots in the past and had been going on for many years.
Mvezo’s traditional leader, Nkosi Mandla Mandela, the grandson of former state president Nelson Mandela, said he didn’t know what started the violence but supported police investigations into the matter.
“We support police investigations into the matter and it also has the blessing of the Mandela family. What we don’t want are people taking the law to their own hands,” said Mandela, who took over reins at the village in 2007.
Since the violence erupted young men from upper Mvezo feared for their lives if they reported for work at the village’s multi-million development project taking place in the lower section.
Villagers fear the violence could interrupt the re-opening of schools next week.
People told a Daily Dispatch team visiting the village this week that they were living in fear, but residents from both sections claimed innocence when asked who was responsible for the the violence.
They said village life had been affected as stores and taverns closed earlier and people were scared to venture out at night.
Some had even resorted to fleeing their homes while others gathered into groups for safety and slept in one place.
Young men were patrolling their respective areas villages in fear they would be invaded.
Sommango said he was attacked after chasing a youth who threw three stones at this house and broke windows. His nephew, who was with him at the time, was also stabbed while his two sons are among those arrested for murder.
All villagers including the dead man’s uncle Mavuyo Nompoko, want the violence to end.
“This is caused by young men and boys and all those who have been instigating the violence have been arrested. We are relatives... This is painful because it’s our children... they don’t have the same mentality as us,” he said when asked if he was scared following the death of his nephew.
Daily Dispatch
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