Unpaid well-digger in midnignt axe attack on three women

By Sukulwenkosi Dube

A Tsholotsho man ran amok and axed three Bulilima women in one night after they allegedly failed to pay him for digging water wells at their homesteads.

Nkosiyabo Khumalo, 40, also proceeded to Zuzaphi Business Centre where he broke into a shop belonging to Simon Ndlela and destroyed all his goods, alleging that the businessman owed him money.

Two of the women are recovering at Plumtree District Hospital after Khumalo axed them on their heads. Maidah Sithole, 62, of Zuzaphi area in Ndolwane under Chief Masendu said Khumalo broke into her homestead around 2AM on Tuesday.

She said he was demanding payment before completing the job. Sithole said Khumalo robbed her of R1,200.

“I was asleep at home with my grandchildren when I heard a loud knock on the door. The person knocking identified himself as Khumalo. He told me that he had come to collect his money. I told him that I didn’t have any money. The man threatened to set our bedroom hut on fire if I didn’t open the door,” said Sithole.

She said when she finally opened the door, Khumalo began assaulting her with a chisel on her arms. Sithole said she retrieved R1,200 from her purse and handed it over to Khumalo who complained that the money was not enough.

“He went on to hammer my head with the chisel. My two grandchildren had already fled from the bedroom hut and were screaming but no one could hear them. Khumalo struck me once with an axe and then fled the homestead,” said Sithole.

She said she fainted and was assisted by her grandchildren to get help from a neighbouring house.

Duduzile Ncube, 36, another victim from the same village, said Khumalo was well-known in the area as he had assisted a number of people by digging wells for them.

Ncube who was visibly in pain said Khumalo arrived at her homestead around 1AM and broke down her bedroom hut door. She said she was with her eight-year-old child when Khumalo attacked.

Ncube said Khumalo demanded money but she pointed out that she did not have any.

“Khumalo struck me with an axe twice on the head. He also hammered me with a chisel and bit my upper lip and breasts as we struggled. Khumalo also tried to stab me with a knife but I ran out of the hut and hid in my backyard. He searched for me but eventually gave up as it was dark,” she said.

Ncube said she jumped over the fence intending to flee to her neighbour but collapsed on the way. She later woke up at the neighbour’s homestead.

She said Khumalo fled with her cellphone after he searched the hut and failed to get any money. Ncube said Khumalo proceeded to her sister’s homestead where he attacked Sibongile Ncube.

She said Sibongile was treated at Plumtree District Hospital and discharged.

The councillor of the area, Ian Matiwaza, said Khumalo destroyed Ndlela’s shop on the same night.

He said the man, who was still at large, broke into the shop and destroyed all the goods.

“Khumalo threw some of the goods in a Blair toilet and emptied the other goods to the ground but he left nothing on the shelves,” said Matiwaza. The Chronicle