The recent murder of a local man at Duthuni Tshivhambe, outside Thohoyandou, has revived calls for parents not to give up on their children but to continue reprimanding them when they do wrong.
This follows the murder of a local man identified as 20-year-old Alu Mbulaheni, who was found dead in a pool of blood in the village. The incident occurred on Monday, 29 September, at around 02:45.
Sources close to the situation allege that the incident followed an altercation between two men at a local restaurant. The confrontation is said to have escalated outside the premises, where the deceased was fatally wounded.
The deceased's uncle, Mr Seven Mbulaheni, described him as a peace-loving young man who would not hurt a fly. "He passed his Grade 12 but could not go to tertiary because of his low marks. He was working for a local catering company while also attending driving lessons. We are devastated as a family," he said.
Community leader Mr Mbulaheni Mphadzha said crime had become a source of great concern in the village. "Day in and day out, we get reports of robberies, housebreakings, murders and muggings in the community. This makes us prisoners in our homes as it is dangerous to venture outside our yards at night," he said.
Mphadzha said that as community leaders, they were discussing ways to combat crime. "The latest incidents have opened our eyes that things are not done the right way in the village. The incident happened around 03:00, which is the time our children are supposed to be at home. We urge parents to check on the whereabouts of their children. They should not allow them to attend all-night bashes as most of the bad things happen there. We know it is hard to monitor our children, but as parents, let us not give up but continue taking care of them," he said.
Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi confirmed that a man identified as Alu Mbulaheni had been found dead in a pool of blood.
"The police were called by community members and, on arrival, they found the deceased, who was half-naked and had stab wounds on his chest and shoulder. The motive for the killing is still unknown, and the suspect is also unknown at this stage. Any information that could assist the police in their investigation may be directed to Det-Sgt Mpho Gethe on 079 380 1132," he said.
Mbulaheni was buried at the local Mushavhanamadi cemetery on Sunday, 5 October.