Eight families across the Eastern Cape are preparing to lay to rest their loved ones who were tragically killed in the Lwandle mass shooting near Strand. The provincial government has stepped in to coordinate funeral support and repatriation logistics ahead of services scheduled for Saturday. The victims were among 11 people killed when gunmen opened fire at a shisa nyama in Lwandle on September 27.
The Eastern Cape government has established a multi-departmental committee to assist families with funeral costs, social relief, and the repatriation of remains. The committee, led by the provincial department of social development and supported by the Office of the Premier, brings together government departments and other stakeholders to help families with funeral arrangements and related needs.
Funerals are planned in multiple towns and villages, including Willowvale, Ngcobo, Sterkstroom, Alice, and Butterworth. Among those killed was Yonelani July, 33, a mother of two young children, aged five and eight. Her children were being cared for by their grandfather, Zonwabele July, while their father remained involved in their care.
Social workers have been deployed to provide counselling and other support to affected families. The Western Cape department of social development's Strand office has been assisting families since the shooting, holding counselling and debriefing sessions with several families on September 30.
The City of Cape Town and local municipalities have contributed transport assistance for grieving relatives travelling home for the burials. One of the major challenges has been transporting the victims' remains from the Western Cape to their home communities. The provincial government said discussions were continuing with municipalities, police, funeral parlours, donors and other potential contributors to secure the necessary assistance.
The provincial government has extended its condolences to all those affected by the tragedy and remains committed to supporting the families and ensuring the victims received dignified funerals. Social development officials in both the Western Cape and Eastern Cape are providing psycho-social support and monitoring affected orphans.
The victims to be buried in the Eastern Cape have been identified as Yonelani July, Abongile Hele, Siyathemba Jilaji, Avuyile Sikweza, Lahluma Klaas, Sivenathi Manxiwa, Okuhle Matibane, and Khululekani Ndlovu/Dlamini. The government is arranging social relief for affected households and providing support to ensure families do not have to shoulder the burden of organising funerals without assistance.
Key points
- The Eastern Cape government has established a multi-departmental committee to assist families with funeral costs, social relief, and repatriation logistics.
- Eight victims of the Lwandle mass shooting will be laid to rest in their respective home communities on Saturday, October 10.
- The provincial government has provided transport assistance and psycho-social support to affected families.
