In a devastating incident that shook Goje Township in Ezulwini, South Africa, a married deputy sheriff named Visu Mancina has surrendered to the authorities after fatally shooting four women, including his own girlfriend.
Women for Change, South Africa, identified the victims as Nonhlanhla Thwala, Fikile Shongwe, Lungile Shongwe, and Cynthia Shngwe in a post shared on Thursday, November 2, 2023. A fifth woman survived the shooting and is reported to be in critical condition at Mbabane Government Hospital.
Among the victims was the sister of the deputy sheriff’s girlfriend. The incident occurred on Saturday night, October 28, 2023.
The deputy sheriff was a frequent visitor to his girlfriend’s flat, and on that fateful Saturday, he arrived at around 11 p.m. with his friends, called by his girlfriend. He had spent time at a popular bar in Ezulwini before visiting his lover.
Upon reaching the flat, sources indicate that he found his girlfriend, her sister, and other friends in the sitting room. It is believed that a heated conversation about infidelity allegations led to the deputy sheriff opening fire on all five occupants of the flat.
Four women tragically lost their lives, while one survived, having been shot in the back with the bullet passing through her stomach.
Security guards patrolling the area reported hearing gunshots around 11 p.m. that night. Upon investigation by the police, it was confirmed that five people had been shot, with four fatalities.
The sight of the bodies being removed from the flat and loaded into a police van was an emotional moment for some tenants and relatives. The victims’ personal belongings, including cellphones and earrings, were shown to the relatives before being taken by the police for further investigation.
Expressing concern, one of the relatives remarked, “This man is up to something. Some cards are missing here,” as the police departed with the bodies.
The police informed the relatives that the corpses would be taken to the mortuary after certification at Mbabane Government Hospital.
Shortly after the incident, the suspect surrendered himself to the police. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, confirmed the incident, reporting that five women were shot in a flat at Goje Township in Ezulwini.
Four of the women were declared dead upon arrival at Mbabane Government Hospital, while one remains in critical condition. The suspect voluntarily turned himself in at Lobamba Police Station.
| LIB
