Noxolo Jada had just returned from the bathroom when she was shot in the shoulder, and as she tried to get up to run for her dear life, two more bullets were pumped into her body.
This as tavern patrons were screaming and asking what they had done to be attacked by a group of men armed with AK-47 assault rifles.
Two eyewitnesses who spoke to Sowetan this week told of how they heard gunshots outside the tavern in Kanana, Orkney in the North West, last Friday night.
Noxolo, 22, is among eight people who died. At least 13 others sustained injuries.
Noxolo had a two-year-old child. Her sister, Wendy Jada, who escaped unharmed, said she watched as her sibling was gunned down and recalled how they spent the day running errands and decided to go grab two drinks at the tavern.
They were in the company of Noxolo’s boyfriend, who was also unharmed.
“Around 4pm we bathed and headed to Ha Mdu [tavern] to get two [drinks]. We had a good time and [around 8pm to 9pm], Noxolo decided to go to the loo and left me with her boyfriend.
“Shortly afterwards, we heard gunshots. We saw Noxolo running towards us through the entrance door as we were facing that direction and she was met with a gunshot, The [men first] shot her on the shoulder and as she tried to get up, she was shot again at the back.
“I watched them kill my sister. We [ Wendy and Noxolo’s boyfriend] hid. The men asked where “AbeSotho.” were. They were speaking Xhosa. They [suspects] had already shot people who were outside. They also ordered us to lie down and kept shooting,” she said.
Herman Moloi
www.sowetanlive.co.za
