Eight people, including two children, were shot dead in Palmiet Road informal settlement in Clare Estate, Durban, on Saturday night.

They were killed in two separate incidents within minutes of each other. The police however suspect the shootings were related.

In the first incident, six people were killed when unknown gunmen kicked the door open and started shooting.“No one seems to know what happened, which makes us all fear for our lives.”A Palmiet Road resident.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Captain Thembeka Mbele said it was alleged that group of friends were drinking in one of the shacks when the gunmen stormed the house.

Sibayanda Nceclani (40), Bauso Hombakazi (30), Clifford Moyo (37), an unknown woman believed to be 23 years old and two children Thandolwethu Mathangana (five), and Yanga Mathangana (nine) were killed.

“All of these deceased were shot in the head and 9mm cartridges and one bullet were found at the scene.

“The community was questioned, and they have very little information, just that they believe the suspects are two males,” said Mbele.

She added that preliminary enquiries suggested that prior to the shooting there had been a commotion in that shack. Some of the deceased, including the children, were Zimbabwean nationals while the others were South African.

Soon after the initial shooting, two more men were shot in the head in another shack in the same locality.

“Again, there is no indication of the motive, but it is believed that the two scenes may be linked,” said Mbhele.

Little girl and baby survive

Fikiswa Shomela (35) and a 40-year-old man known as Patcha were killed in the second shooting and 9mm cartridges were found at that scene as well.

A resident, who asked not to be named, told The Witness that two children, a four-year-old and a nine-month-old baby survived the shooting. “The four-year-old girl was found outside one of the shacks still shocked probably from the sounds of gunshots and seeing her parents being killed. The baby was found on top of his lifeless mother,” said the resident.

“No one seems to know what happened, which makes us all fear for our lives.”