Pretoria - The murder of 10 people in Shongweni and Marianhill in KwaZulu-Natal has been described as a barbaric act by Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister, Lulu Xingwana.
On Tuesday, Xingwana visited the families of the 10 victims.
"It was only during the period of political violence in this province that we heard of incidents like this one, where ten people from three families were killed in two days.
"This is the most brutal crime committed against women and children I have heard of in recent times... we should all ensure that it never happens anywhere else in our country," said the minister.
Xingwana encouraged the police to act firmly against criminals, warning that anyone who intends to attack innocent women and children will face the full might of the law.
"One of the greatest challenges limiting the effectiveness of our criminal justice system is reluctance of our people to provide information and act as witnesses in cases like these.
"Information provided by the community to the police is the most important tool in the fight against crime. Also, the prosecutors need our support as witnesses to be able to convict these criminals and ensure that they rot in jail," she said.
At Shongweni, two boys, Thalente and Mthobisi Zulu, aged two and eight, Thabani Zulu, 18, Nokuthula Zulu, 22, Sthembiso Nxusa, 29 and Ngenzeni Hlongwane,40 were all brutal murdered.
A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped, while a 32-year-old woman who was also shot is still receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.
Police were still investigating the possibility of a link between the Shongweni incident and Marianhill attack, where four more people were brutal killed.
Nolusindiso Sikhotha, 30, her six month old baby, Sesethu, her partner Bongani Mngomezulu and his brother, Vasco Msane, were gunned down in their home.
A 22-year-old man handed himself over to police in Pietermaritzburg last Wednesday. He was charged with six counts of murder and rape.
The case was postponed to 17 November for bail application.
