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THE Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders has called for urgent action following the recent spate of “ripper” killings in the Transkei area.

Yesterday, Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima addressed local chiefs, police heads and members of the community in Msobomvu community hall in Butterworth about the killings.

He called on the police to inform frightened communities about their investigations . “The community is panicking, they want to know how far are the police in their investigations in arresting of this perpetrator,” he said. “Also, we need plans for this to stop. That will happen when we are united.”

Among those who attended the meeting were Butterworth cluster police head Director Mzimasi Vukani, former MEC for Education Mkhangeli Matomela, former Mnquma Municipality acting mayor Ndyebo Skelenge, the present mayor, Mabona Duna and all the chiefs from Tsomo, Ngqamakhwe, Dutywa, Centane and Butterworth .

Matanzima said the Monday meeting was called because of the fear that has rocked the community. “People are in fear. As their leaders, it is our duty to find solutions for them. We don’t know when the person will strike again and we won’t wait for him to come and take another innocent life – let’s unite. As chiefs we have no choice but to fight this immediately,” he said.

Matanzima blamed Satanism.

“Satanism is rife . This is starting in our schools and as parents we are not noticing that. For me, this is part of Satanism,” he said.

Mkhangeli Matomela, who represented a subcommittee that deals with community participation on religious and traditional issues, echoed Matanzima’s sentiments. “The Parliament is worried about this recent problem in this area. But what I can tell you is that this is part of Satanism. There are secret societies who are using our people to do things like killing people; we have proof of that,” said Matomela. “W e are facing a huge challenge.”

Matomela said every government institution in the Butterworth and Dutywa area should print the identikit of the “Kei Ripper” and distribute it widely .

“Let the people see this person so that they can identify him and alert the police. Let’s print as many posters of this killer as possible so this can stop ,” he said.

Matomela said he also suspected that the spate of murders in the area were connected with muti killings.

The head of the police task team investigating the killings, Superintendent Enoch Mtwa, assured the community that police were working around the clock to arrest the culprit .