The sleepy village of Merwe near Malamulele Limpopo has been shaken, following the gruesome murder of a 76-year-old granny and her 46-year-old daughter.

Mamaila Ndlovu and her daughter, Esther, were asleep on Sunday night when they were allegedly attacked and the hut and one adjacent to it were burnt down. During Mirror’s visit to the family, all that was left were two burnt-down huts, with smell of burnt flesh. Damage could not be ascertained at this time.

Locals who have heard of the incident came in their droves and were seen lining the street where the two stayed, while police were busy combing the scene for clues.

There are two huts in the household and it appears that somebody first set alight the one and, on hearing screams from the other, they went there and set it alight. By the time of going to press, it was not known if the two women were first shot and then set alight, because neighbours say they heard nine shots fired during the incident.

“We were afraid to go out and investigate,” they said. They later saw the two huts on fire and it later emerged that Mamaila Ndlovu and her daughter had been sleeping in one of the huts.

It has emerged that Ndlovu had survived many other attacks in the past. “It appears that her attackers first set one hut alight and, when they heard screams for help from the other hut, they went there to get the mother and daughter,” said local headman Mlungisi.

According to the headmen, some neighbours alleged that they saw at least four persons, but could not identify them, because it was dark.

It could be seen that the assailants were determined to kill her this time as they had made a big hole in a fence at the adjacent homestead. It is also clear that they wanted to make a quick getaway after the attack as the front gate was tightly locked.

Different footprints could be seen leading to the huts from the hole, supporting the suspicion that more than one person was involved in the attack.

The chairperson of the Madonsi Traditional Authority, who went with a delegation from Chief Elvis Madonsi, said the chief was shocked. “We heard about similar incidents in 2005 when two grannies were raped and their huts set alight at Greenfarm, and now this. That time it was better because the perpetrators were caught and they are now serving prison terms,” said Hlungwani.

Local Thulamela ward councillor Thomas Maluleke said the community was in a state of shock. He said they were worried that the attackers might come back and strike as they are not known. He appealed for calm in the village and for people to cooperate with the po-lice.

He said it was worrying to see people using violence as a way out of their problems.

Mthavini Khosa, who was the dead pensioner’s daughter-in-law, says it appears the community did not want her to stay at Merwe since she moved there from Madonsi five years ago. “She survived several attacks in the past. On two occasions, the huts belonging to her younger sisters were set alight and it is believed the arsonists were looking for her. On one occasion, an unknown person tried to shoot her and he missed and shot her daughter in the leg,” said Mthavini Khosa.

Police spokesperson Insp Alson Mapindani said a murder docket had been opened and police were investigating. Mapindani urged those who might have information about the incident to please contact their nearest police. “We are busy with our investigations. We will rope in experts to work the case and we are hopeful for a break-through,” he said.