When they were born on August 24, 1983 in Madallenyoni, Ntabazindona in Matabeleland North Province, their family rejoiced as they were blessed with twins, and at that point – no one would have thought that the pair of Samukelesiwe and Atalia Chu would also die on the same day. day.
However, 41 years later, a dark cloud swept over the Cho family as they found themselves mourning their precious twins who were brutally shot dead in a horrific marital dispute that occurred on April 3 in Berea, Johannesburg in South Africa, where they were residing.
In a video circulating on social media, the late twins’ elder brother, Farai, said Samukelesiwe was shot dead by her husband, identified as Justin Mahlaba of Gokwe, after a marital dispute between the two. The husband then shot Atalia. The two were killed during a family meeting, where the family was trying to resolve the couple’s differences. After killing the twins and trying to kill Farai and his wife, Justice shot himself as well.
“My sisters were shot dead last week when we were having a family meeting of six people – me, my late sister, my (deceased) brother-in-law, my wife and my younger brother Freddy. We started the meeting with prayer. Everyone narrated their views and one of the twin sisters who was married to Mhlaba told us that she wanted to separate from “Her husband because she was tired of being mistreated, and that’s when all hell broke loose.”
He continued: “My brother-in-law got angry and took out a gun and shot his wife in front of us, then Freddy ran for his life. He then continued shooting at Atalia. He shot his wife a second time when she showed some signs of life and pointed the gun at my wife. Fortunately, the gun jammed, and when my wife realized this, she ran for her life, and a neighbor rescued her and hid her in her house.
“Then my brother-in-law came home after failing to catch my wife and tried to shoot me but failed because the gun jammed again. Then he went to the balcony and I thought he wanted to throw himself from the balcony but after a few minutes I heard the sound of a gunshot.
“He killed himself. I stayed on the ground and waited for the police to arrive,” Farai said.
During the week, B-Metro visited Zhou’s home at Madlelenyoni in Ntabazinduna where the twins will be buried and the news crew was welcomed by
There was a gloomy atmosphere as the family was in the middle of the evening prayer session.
Thulani, the late twins’ brother, said they were horrified by the incident and described his sisters as non-violent people. He also said that what Justin did (killing his sisters) was unjustified and said that the Mhlaba family had to appease the Chu ancestors by paying them a certain number of cows so that they could perform a purification ceremony for the deceased.
“What usibare (brother-in-law) did is unjustified. As a family, we are devastated by his actions because my sisters did not deserve to die this way. Yes, they may have had a dispute with him but I think it could have been handled in a better way. They were very humble and calm people Because I never saw them fighting or being violent even when we were growing up. “We are at a great loss, and because of this, the Mhlaba family has to pay something so that we clean up the ngozi (spirit of vengeance), so that we can appease the ancestors and allow our sisters to rest in peace,” Thulani said.
The twins’ younger sister, Otilia, said she could not believe her sisters were brutally murdered. The twins are said to have left behind three children.
“I really can’t believe they’re really gone. I’m so sad that my sisters died such a painful death. They were non-violent people, and I don’t understand what crossed my brother-in-law’s mind. We are hurting at the same time, and this incident should be a lesson for many to speak out if They have domestic disputes so that things do not escalate to the point of killing each other. We appeal to the general public to help us in such a difficult time as this incident has taken us by surprise. We hope to bury our sisters on Sunday as their bodies will be brought home on Saturday. We ask good people to help us with what They have. They can contact us on 0784257166 or 0772824954.” B Metro
