Horror massacre: Entire family shot, homes set alight

South Africa is a grotesquely violent country and this report of a massacre of eight people will give you chills.

The Mercury reports that eight people, including six grandchildren under the age of ten, were shot and their home set alight in Ematimalo in Greytown outside Pietermaritzburg.

Sisters and grandmothers Nanazi and Sindisiwe Sibiya were killed along with their six grandchildren, Sdudla, Olwethu, Thembeka, Londeka, Ziyanda and Lindo. One of the children, who is currently in critical condition in hospital, is just two years old.

The two families lived in separate homes, about 100m apart. According to the report, gunshots were heard at around 21:00 before the fires.

The sisters’ half-brother, Fanozi Shaik, told the Mercury that he was shocked by the murders. He said that he had no idea why his family was targeted.

“It is clear to us that this was a planned attack. My sisters were the targets. What puzzles us is that we’ve never received any complaints about them. At the moment we are still confused, we don’t know what to do,” said Shaik.

“When I arrived my sisters were burnt, as well as the kids. I have never come across such cruelty. My whole family was murdered, it still feels like I’m dreaming.”

Shaik and ward councillor for the area, Musa Zond denied that allegations of witchcraft led to the attakcs.