ONE of the daughters of slain traditional healer Alton Joja, known as Ndzabe, witnessed the gruesome killing of her father on Sunday morning.
The 30-year-old Nomonde was too traumatised by seeing her father getting shot to talk to the Daily Dispatch about the murder that took place in broad daylight in front of her.
“He died in front of me, I held him in my arms.
“That is all I’m prepared to say at this stage,” she said.
Nomonde, though petrified by what had just happened, tried to defend her father by throwing stones at the murderers and their vehicle as they were fleeing the scene.
The 60-year-old medicine man was attacked in front of his home in Mbizana by five gunmen who had gone to his home to speak to him.
At the time, he had been busy helping a client.
The men shot him with a 9mm pistol then R5 rifles before fleeing the scene.
The Dispatch has learned that after shooting Ndzabe in the chest the men turned him over and shot him in the back.
When the Dispatch arrived at Ndzabe’s Ludeke Holt home the mood was sombre, as neighbours and relatives came inside one by one to mourn with the family.
Nomonde’s sister Ntombi Joja told the Dispatch the family had decided to not give any details about what happened at this stage as they were still trying to deal with the death of their father.
“We are very shocked by it.
“It is very difficult for us and my sisters are not ready to talk about it for now.
“If he was sick we would understand but how it happened really killed us.
Ntombi had spoken to her father earlier that day.
He was supposed to fetch them from a sibling’s house in another village.
“I phoned him in the morning and he said he was going to pick us up.
“When I phoned later, he did not answer his phone,” said Ntombi.
While the older siblings struggle to deal with the death of their father, the last-born twins are still in shock.
The 17-year-old girls were expecting to get their monthly allowance from their father but when they phoned him, one of their siblings answered his phone .
What exacerbated the trauma was seeing the news on social networks about the death of their father before being officially informed by their family.
Ndzabe’s daughters told the Dispatch that although they were mourning his death, they would always remember him and be grateful to him for empowering them and putting them through school.
Ntombi, who is a LLB law graduate said: “He was a loving, caring father.
“He loved his kids and his wife so much, and he would have done anything for us.
“We are hurt that he passed away but he left us in a stable home.
“We shall walk on the same path he walked when he was alive.”
Police spokesman Mlungisi Matidane said: “We are looking for people who might have information about this to assist us in arresting the suspects.” — /
Daughter sees healer’s murder
The 30-year-old Nomonde was too traumatised by seeing her father getting shot to talk to the Daily Dispatch about the murder that took place in broad daylight in front of her.
“He died in front of me, I held him in my arms.
“That is all I’m prepared to say at this stage,” she said.
Nomonde, though petrified by what had just happened, tried to defend her father by throwing stones at the murderers and their vehicle as they were fleeing the scene.
The 60-year-old medicine man was attacked in front of his home in Mbizana by five gunmen who had gone to his home to speak to him.
At the time, he had been busy helping a client.
The men shot him with a 9mm pistol then R5 rifles before fleeing the scene.
The Dispatch has learned that after shooting Ndzabe in the chest the men turned him over and shot him in the back.
When the Dispatch arrived at Ndzabe’s Ludeke Holt home the mood was sombre, as neighbours and relatives came inside one by one to mourn with the family.
Nomonde’s sister Ntombi Joja told the Dispatch the family had decided to not give any details about what happened at this stage as they were still trying to deal with the death of their father.
“We are very shocked by it.
“It is very difficult for us and my sisters are not ready to talk about it for now.
“If he was sick we would understand but how it happened really killed us.
Ntombi had spoken to her father earlier that day.
He was supposed to fetch them from a sibling’s house in another village.
“I phoned him in the morning and he said he was going to pick us up.
“When I phoned later, he did not answer his phone,” said Ntombi.
While the older siblings struggle to deal with the death of their father, the last-born twins are still in shock.
The 17-year-old girls were expecting to get their monthly allowance from their father but when they phoned him, one of their siblings answered his phone .
What exacerbated the trauma was seeing the news on social networks about the death of their father before being officially informed by their family.
Ndzabe’s daughters told the Dispatch that although they were mourning his death, they would always remember him and be grateful to him for empowering them and putting them through school.
Ntombi, who is a LLB law graduate said: “He was a loving, caring father.
“He loved his kids and his wife so much, and he would have done anything for us.
“We are hurt that he passed away but he left us in a stable home.
“We shall walk on the same path he walked when he was alive.”
Police spokesman Mlungisi Matidane said: “We are looking for people who might have information about this to assist us in arresting the suspects.” — /
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