The family of slain teenager Zwoluga Gift Mudzanani has found renewed hope after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decided to reinstate murder charges against two suspects accused of killing the 18-year-old inside the Muswodi police station in December 2023.
The breakthrough follows sustained pressure and representations made by the Real Man Foundation’s Mr Itani Nengudza, who intervened on behalf of the grieving family after the case appeared to have stalled.
Zwoluga’s mother, Ms Evidence Mudzanani, said the family has endured pain and frustration since her son was killed while allegedly seeking refuge from attackers.
“My son died inside a police station while armed police officers watched and did nothing. It still pains me every day,” she said emotionally.
According to Ms Mudzanani, Zwoluga had been living with her in Gauteng before asking permission to visit his grandmother in the village during the festive season. On Christmas Day, 25 December 2023, she said the teenager had been spending time with neighbours before later going to a local tavern, where a fight allegedly broke out.
“He ran to the police station for safety after being attacked by other boys, but they followed him there and stabbed him inside the Community Service Centre,” she said.
The devastated mother said she received a call the following morning at around 05:00 informing her that her son had been injured at the police station.
“When she arrived there, she found out he was already dead, lying in a pool of blood.”
Ms Mudzanani said that although two suspects were initially arrested shortly after the incident, the family was shocked when they were later released and the case withdrawn.
The Real Man Foundation later took up the matter and formally petitioned the office of the Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), questioning delays in the prosecution despite what it described as strong eyewitness and physical evidence.
Foundation founder Mr Itani Calvin Nengudza welcomed the NPA’s latest decision.
“This is a victory for the family and for justice. We believed there was enough evidence for this matter to proceed,” he said.
In a letter signed by Advocate Ivy Thenga, the NPA confirmed that murder charges against the two suspects had been reinstated and that warrants for their arrest would be sought. The matter will proceed in the Regional Court once the accused are re-arrested.