Two young lives perish during the show weekend

Louis Trichardt was a hive of activity this weekend, with the annual Makhado Show in full swing as well as other social activities and sport events. The festivities, unfortunately, also had a negative spin-off, as two young men were killed in stabbing incidents.

Makhuvha Shonisani Ravele (16) and Ndivhuwo Mashapha (23) were fatally stabbed during what seemed to be physical attacks in two separate incidents in Louis Trichardt town on Saturday night. The stabbings occurred between 21:00 and midnight.

The first incident occurred next to the Levubu road, not far from where the Makhado Show was drawing to a close. A resident of Mauluma village in Nzhelele, Shonisani Ravele, rushed towards a police van that was parked next to the road. According to the Makhado police’s spokesperson, Const Irene Radzilane, the young man told the police that he was running away from people who were stabbing him. Shonisani was covered in blood.

“The attackers in question allegedly stopped chasing the deceased when they saw him rushing towards the police officers, and instead ran away,” Radzilane said.

Shonisani, a Grade 10 pupil at Patric Ramaano Secondary School, later died in the LTT Memorial Hospital.

A family spokesperson, Mr Onisimus Ravele, expressed his thanks this week to everyone who had sent condolences. “We believe that we have capable men and women in blue who will do a good job, so that the perpetrators are brought to the book and face the might of the law,” he said.

Shonisani will be laid to rest at Mauluma village on Saturday. The funeral service starts at 06:30.

In the second incident, a blood-soaked Ndivhuwo Mashapa was seen running out of the Makhado Information Centre’s leisure park and crossing the road. He jumped into a car at the crossing, probably in an effort to get away from his assailants or to get help. “The unknown driver saw that the victim was covered in blood and was in severe pain,” Radzilane said. “So, he just quickly rushed him to the LTT Memorial Hospital.” Ndivhuwo died the following morning.

“We feel very sad as a family,” said Ndivhuwo’s aunt, Ms Johanna Ramathuba. “We are without words to describe our pain.”

Ndivhuwo will be laid to rest at Tshikwarani village on Saturday at 06:00.

Const Radzilane said she could not comment on whether or not security or police visibility had been compromised during the show weekend. “All I can say is that as police we try our best to do our work in relation to people’s safety and security even during the show,” Radzilane said. “So, police visibility is always intensified during all major events like the Makhado annual show.”

She said that no suspects had been arrested at that stage, but that the police were following up on leads. “We call upon members of the community to contact D/C Tshifhiwa Mavhungu on 072 890 4818 with any information relating to the two incidents,” she said.

The spokesperson for the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, offered condolences to the families of the two people who had lost their lives. “One life lost or two is too many for us. We are saddened by this tragic incident which, according to the police, happened outside the show grounds,” he said. “May God give the two families strength during this difficult time,” he added.

Date:04 August 2017

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

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