The Gumbani community outside Malamulele in Limpopo is in shock following the deaths of two people who were leaving a local tavern in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police in Limpopo say they are investigating one case of murder and another case of manslaughter. A 13-year-old girl was hit by a minibus, and a 23-year-old man was allegedly beaten and stabbed to death.
Witnesses say Nhlamula Baloyi was shot and stabbed to death, allegedly by unknown persons, after a fight at a tavern in Gumbani near Malamulele. The fight broke out early Sunday evening, when the outlet was about to close.
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Baloyi is a resident of a nearby village, but he rented a room in Gumbani as he was in the tenth grade of the local high school. One of the residents who stay near the inn, Hensani Matzewele, says Baloyi was a close friend of her son and he rented a room in her house.
Makewele says the suspects also stabbed her during the altercation that took place outside her home.
“I was also stabbed and the windows were broken. I just wish the one suspect we were able to identify would direct the police to his accomplice so that they would all be arrested so that the victim’s family could have some closure. They left their son in my care and now he has been killed,” Makevele said.
During the quarrel, the bus driver was also injured. While the driver was leaving the scene to seek medical help at the nearest medical center, he allegedly hit a thirteen-year-old girl. The teenage girl died on the spot. Limpopo Transport spokesman Thidimala Chuene confirms the incident.
Chuene says: “A thirteen-year-old boy died after he was hit by a van on the morning of Sunday August 7 on the D4 road at Humani village in Vhembe district. A pedestrian in the roadway has been cited as a possible cause, such a loss of life is heartbreaking and as a department our condolences go out to the bereaved family.”
The local head of Ndhuna, Hassani Siyani, says he is concerned about the way liquor outlets operate in the community.
“We fear that the incident may happen again as the deceased left the tavern at two in the morning and the tavern is still operating as usual,” Hassani Siyani added.
Police spokesman Matlafela Mohapela says they have opened a case of murder and another case of premeditated murder. The family of the 13-year-old could not be reached for comment.
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