Family of murdered Mitchells Plain sisters pleads for compassion and an end to speculation

The family of sisters Zainab Jacobs and Gouwah Smith-Newman, who were fatally shot outside Portlands Primary School in Mitchells Plain, has appealed to the public to stop speculating about the tragedy and instead offer prayers for the children left behind. Their father, Mogamat Nadeem Smith, said the loss had torn through the family, leaving a wound that words cannot heal.

The sisters, aged 26 and 30, were allegedly gunned down by their brother, 32-year-old Ederees Smith, moments after collecting his children from school. A 12-year-old boy was also wounded in the shooting. The shocking act drew widespread attention and triggered a wave of social media speculation that the family says only deepens their pain.

Speaking to the Weekend Argus, Smith pleaded with the community to be sensitive and avoid spreading unverified claims. “What he did was wrong, but right now our focus is on the children,” he said. “They’ve lost their mothers, their aunts, and their sense of safety. We’re just trying to hold them together.”

The family described the past week as one of unbearable sorrow and confusion. They are now working to reunite the children with their mother and provide them with stability. “We are going through a trauma that no family should ever experience,” Smith said. “People need to let us grieve and pray for the kids.”

Police investigations continue as the accused remains in custody, facing murder and attempted murder charges. For the family, justice must run its course, but their message remains one of empathy and restraint. “We need compassion, not speculation,” Smith said quietly. “The truth will come out in time, but for now, we need peace.”