Elderly KZN woman hacked to death in her sleep

A 74-year-old woman was brutally hacked to death in her sleep at her home in the Macambini area of Mandeni, north of Durban, in a shocking attack that has left the community reeling. Busisiwe Nokuthula Mamkhwanazi Ngema was killed on Sunday evening by unknown assailants armed with pangas. According to police, the suspects allegedly broke into an outside room belonging to her son, who was at work at the time, and stole household items.

They then went into the main house, where they found Ngema sleeping and hacked her to death with pangas. Her granddaughter, who was sleeping in a separate bedroom at the time of the attack, managed to escape unharmed. The African National Congress (ANC) in the General Gizenga Mpanza Region has condemned the murder, describing it as brutal, senseless, and deeply disturbing.

Regional spokesperson Lucky Makhathini said they were saddened and outraged by the brutal killing. He urged community members with information that could assist in identifying and arresting the perpetrators to come forward and cooperate with the police. Ngema was described as a religious woman who was widely loved and respected in her community, particularly for her involvement in upliftment initiatives. Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said Nyoni police have opened a murder case for investigation following an incident in which a 74-year-old woman was allegedly hacked to death in the Macambini area.