A man who was recently released on parole for a previous murder conviction has been arrested for the brutal killing of three young siblings in Lulwane village, Manguzi, in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The killings have sent shockwaves through the community and renewed calls for urgent intervention in cases of extreme violence against children.
The victims have been identified as Kwanele Gumede, 15, Amanda Khumalo, 9, and Ayabonga Khumalo, aged seven. All three children were allegedly hacked to death with a bush knife.
Alleged Dispute Linked to the Murders
According to the children’s grandfather, Jobe Khumalo, the attack is believed to have stemmed from a dispute between the suspect and the children’s father. However, the exact cause of the disagreement remains unclear.
“At this stage, it is not clear what the dispute was about, as no one is willing to tell the family what led to this incident,” Khumalo said.
He added that both the children’s father and the suspect were involved in relationships with women who are sisters from the same family, a factor that may have contributed to tensions.
‘A Horrific Scene’
Khumalo described the aftermath of the killings as deeply traumatic, saying the family is struggling to comprehend the level of brutality involved.
“What he has done has caused us immense pain,” he said. “Where the children were killed, dishes had to be used to fetch the blood. All the clothes were soaked in blood, and people were afraid to enter the room because of the state of the children’s bodies.”
The graphic nature of the crime has left relatives and neighbours traumatised, with many describing it as one of the most disturbing incidents the area has witnessed in recent years.
Mother Deeply Traumatised
The children’s mother was reportedly not at home at the time of the attack. Khumalo said she had left the children alone while attending to her business.
“When she returned, she found them dead,” he said. “She is deeply traumatised and cannot explain what happened.”
He added that the children were not the intended targets, but were killed to inflict pain on their parents.
“If he had found the parents at home, maybe he would have killed them too. He killed the children to hurt the parents, not because they were his targets,” Khumalo said.
Municipality Condemns the Killings
UMkhanyakude Municipality Mayor Sphile Mdaka visited the grieving family and strongly condemned the murders, describing them as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis of violence against women and children in South Africa.
“These incidents require urgent intervention. Violence in our communities continues unabated,” Mdaka said.
He questioned how anyone could commit such an act against defenceless children.
“I have many questions for the person who did this. How does one begin to kill children without remorse? What kind of demon takes over a person to commit such an act?” he asked.
Mdaka said the municipality stands in solidarity with the family and urged police to ensure increased monitoring in the area, particularly after it emerged that the suspect’s home had been set alight following the incident.
Arrest and Court Appearance
KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that the suspect was arrested on Sunday. He appeared in the Manguzi Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Netshiunda also confirmed that the suspect had previously been convicted of murder and was out on parole at the time of the alleged killings, a revelation that has raised serious questions about parole supervision and community safety.
Renewed Calls for Action
The case has once again highlighted deep concerns about violent crime, parole management and the safety of children in vulnerable communities. Community leaders and residents are calling for stronger monitoring of parolees and faster intervention when warning signs emerge.
As the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on justice for Kwanele, Amanda and Ayabonga — three young lives lost in a violent act that has left an entire community grieving and searching for answers.
