The family of the young man who died after he was allegedly stabbed by a group of gangsters said the mob killing of one of the gang members would hopefully send out a strong message that people must stop terrorising communities.
The 20-year-old Tsepo Matamela was allegedly attacked by the notorious gang and stabbed twice in the head when he exciting the Five Rand Shop tavern in Madombidzha village on 11 June. Even though he was severely injured, he staggered home and spent the night shivering with pain.
"We only realised the next morning that he was seriously injured and covered in fresh blood," said his aunt and guardian, Ms Selinah Matamela. "He could hardly speak. But when he managed to open his mouth and utter a word or two, he said that he was stabbed by (a certain) Ndivhuwo, who was also known as Tebza, and his friends."
She explained that Tsepo told them that Ndivhuwo was from Tshikota and that he was the leader of a gang known as the Ma-Dickies. The gang is feared throughout the Sinthumule area, Tshikota and Louis Trichardt town. The gang might have earned their name because their attire comprises Dickies clothing.
Tsepo was discharged from hospital after a day. His condition worsened while he was at home, however, and he was admitted to hospital again on 14 June. "He looked fine, but he had not properly regained his speech," his aunt said. "On Saturday he walked to Depo section to visit his sister."
Later that day Tsepo's father, Mr Joseph Matamela, called and informed other family members that Tsepo's breathing was uneven. "When we got there, we found that he was struggling to say something," Ms Selinah Matamela said. "But he released his final breath and passed away."
The deceased's father said that he had known about the presence of the Ma-Dickies in the village and the terror which had gripped the whole village at the mention of the Ma-Dickies.
"Let's hope that now that the angry residents had burned one of Ma-Dickies (members) to death others who wanted to mug, assault and stab people for fun like Ma-Dickies were doing, would refrain from such acts of violence," the father said. "We hope the law would take its course in the case involving all other members of Ma-Dickies who are now under the police's custody."
The aunt added: "Killing people because they had committed crimes is by no means the right step to take. However, as residents and Tsepo's guardians, we are hurting – and it's the reason why residents decided to sort out Ma-Dickies in this fashion."
The deceased was laid to rest on Saturday at Madombidzha on Saturday.