The sadistic attack in April on a Grade 12 girl from Ghandlanani, allegedly by her ex-lover, along with the failure of the police to arrest the suspect, led to anarchy when furious residents went on the rampage last week, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
According to reports received, the victim, Ntshuxeko Maluleke (22), was on her way home from school on 20 April, when she was allegedly ambushed by her boyfriend, Wisani Chauke (28) of Mafanele village, who began to assault her violently. Maluleke was stabbed with a knife several times, in the face and over her body. Eyewitnesses said the man then allegedly started to suck and lick at the blood from her wounds, in full view of the bystanders, as if he were possessed, and tried to cut her throat. He allegedly also had poison in his pocket, leading people to speculate that he had possibly planned on killing her and then committing suicide. He dared the learners who were there with Maluleke to stop him. Only the timely arrival of the school principal from Hlaluko Secondary (where Maluleke went to school), who fired gunshots into the air, saved the girl's life.
Chauke fled and went into hiding, allegedly proclaiming that he would kill anybody he came across in the village. On Monday, 24 April, the infuriated residents went to his family's home and burnt the house down. They even barricaded roads with burning tyres. When they were informed that Chauke was hiding out at his aunt's home in Jerome, not far from Malamulele, they went over there and torched the aunt's six-room house as well, burning everything to the ground.
Fearing the worst, Chauke handed himself over to the police, where he was charged with attempted murder and assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. He appeared in the Malamulele Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 26 April, and his case was postponed to 9 May. He was remanded in custody.
Limpopo Mirror visited the family on Thursday, 27 April. The girl, who was discharged from hospital on Tuesday (25 April), was still in a lot of pain. Her left eye was still swollen shut and she could not speak because of her swollen mouth.
Chauke had also allegedly assaulted Maluleke brutally in March this year. He was not arrested after this first incident, even though the local community policing forum tried to have him arrested. The latest assault, however, was the last straw, but her family says she is lucky to have survived as he could have killed her.
Collins Chabane's Ward 21 councillor, Always Baloyi, said they were concerned about crime in their ward. "The issue of crime is quite disturbing. We condemn crime in its totality and in this instance, schooling was disturbed, which is never good," he said.
The local traditional leader, Hosi Hasani Meshack Mathebula, said he too was concerned about crime in his area. "Day in and day out we are receiving reports of house breakings and robberies at spaza shops. What is worse is that some do not report these cases. The latest incident has shocked us, and we will sit down with the community and find a way to stop crime in our community. Learners who witnessed the stabbing will also need counselling," he said.