Seven men were killed after two opposing groups of people clashed at the Mpeni locality of Mount Ayliff in the Eastern Cape Province.
It emerged from eye witness accounts that, at approximately 05:00 on 25 December 2020, a group of Mpeni men clashed with a group from the Nokhatshiles leaving seven dead mostly from the latter group.
A further six men from both sides have been hospitalized after sustaining serious injuries during the clash.
The Acting National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sindile Mfazi has firstly ordered the mobilization of the 72-hour Activation Plan which entails the mobilisation of manpower and resources from Crime Intelligence, Forensic Services and Detective Services. General Mfazi has also ordered for the immediate deployment of reinforcements to ensure a speedy stabilization of the area, which is currently very tense.
“I am appealing to the community within the Mount Ayliff and surrounding areas to exercise maximum restraint and to assist police in their investigations to bring those responsible for these attacks to book”, said General Mfazi.
The South African National Defence Force has joined forces with the South African Police Service to pursue suspects who are possibly hiding in a vast, unforgiving and undulated area around Mt. Ayliff.
The SANDF is assisting with equipment, including helicopters and providing reinforcements as a force-multiplier to our already deployed reinforcements
We are further appealing to anyone who has any information to please contact the SAPS on 086 00 10111 or provide such information via MySAPS App, an Application which can be downloaded via Play Store on any iPhone or Android.
All information will be treated with strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
