What should have been a peaceful Easter period plunged the Tovhowani community into shock and confusion following the brutal killing of a 79-year-old man in a suspected love triangle.
Residents of Tovhowani village are still grappling with disbelief after a violent altercation claimed the life of Mr Hasani Daniel Bilankulu in the early hours of Thursday, 2 April. The incident, which occurred outside a local shebeen, has shaken the close-knit community, with many struggling to understand how a night of socialising turned deadly.
Mr Godfrey Maluleke of the Tovhowani Community Development Forum said the tragedy has left residents deeply unsettled.
“We are gasping in disbelief,” he said. “Even though I do not have full information about the incident, the little we have gathered is that both the victim and the alleged killer were involved in a relationship with the woman who owns the shebeen.”
Maluleke added that both men are believed to be from the nearby village of Phaphazela, further intensifying the shock across neighbouring communities.
“To add to the confusion, the alleged killer also suffered stab wounds to the back, and we do not know who stabbed him. We cannot tell what really happened,” Maluleke said.
Police have since confirmed the arrest of a 52-year-old suspect in connection with the murder.
According to Vhembe police spokesperson Captain Vuledzani Dathi, officers responded to reports of a disturbance and found that a fight had broken out between the two men.
“It is alleged that patrons inside the shebeen heard a commotion and, upon going outside, found the two engaged in a physical confrontation. The deceased sustained a stab wound, and a knife believed to have been used in the attack was recovered at the scene,” Dathi said.
Emergency Medical Services declared Mr Bilankulu dead at the scene, while the injured suspect was taken to hospital under police guard.
“We hope that the police will conduct their investigations diligently so that the truth can come out,” Maluleke said.
At the time of going to press, the 52-year-old suspect had not yet appeared in court, as he was still hospitalised receiving treatment for the stab wounds he sustained.