The family of a 21-year-old man shot dead after attending a festival at Bush Valley Resort near Madombidzha in the early hours of 7 December is demanding answers. The deceased has been identified as Nthangeni Buasi of Tshikhwani.
According to reports received, Buasi and two friends were on their way home from the festival when they were approached by two men in a vehicle. An altercation reportedly ensued, after which a passenger allegedly got out of the car and began shooting at the young men, fatally wounding Buasi.
Vhembe police spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi said the police had linked the shooting to a hijacking that had occurred later that morning in Louis Trichardt. After shooting at the three young men, the suspects allegedly drove towards Louis Trichardt, where they hijacked a Toyota bakkie in Munnik Street.
"The police traced the suspects and found one in Madombidzha Zone 2. Upon the police's arrival, the suspect cornered himself and took his own life. The deceased is Mendoze Jose Jaime, 31," Dathi said.
He added that a murder case had been opened and detectives were continuing their investigation. The firearm used in the shooting has been sent for ballistic testing.
Buasi's grandmother, Ms Sarah Tshiovhe, said the family would not rest until justice was served. "We asked a lot of questions. What did my grandson do to these cruel men that made them kill him? We want justice for my grandson," she told Limpopo Mirror, weeping. She described Buasi as a "decent and respectful young man" and expressed gratitude to the community for their support during this difficult time.
The local traditional leader, Vhamusanda Vho Mbulaheni Sinthumule, urged the community to be vigilant against crime, describing it as a threat to societal stability and development. "We are losing the leaders of tomorrow. Let us unite against this scourge of crime, and this country will be a better place to live in," he said.
Buasi will be buried at the Tshikhwani cemetery on 13 December.