Cato Manor Police are investigating a case of murder after a Chesterville man was stabbed to death recently.
It is alleged that the suspect, Thulani Hopewell Maqutu, 28, attacked the now deceased, Nhlanhla Mhlongo, 24, from the back, and fatally stabbed him on his head. Mhlongo was declared dead upon arrival at King Edward Hospital on 25 October. Cato Manor SAPS communications officer, Captain C A Sibiya, said it is alleged that the two were acquaintances and had a deal prior to the incident. “It is alleged that the deceased had sold items to the suspect and did not give the money of the sold items. The suspect then allegedly saw the deceased at a local tuck-shop where he allegedly stabbed him to death,” said Capt Sibiya.
Capt Sibiya added that the suspect fled the area after the incident. “The docket was assigned to Detective Sergeant Goss who worked tirelessly with informers to ensure that the suspect was arrested. The suspect was arrested after he had come back to Chesterville. It is believed that he had come back to pick up his belongings, before fleeing permanently. Det/Sgt Goss found him hiding under his bed, covered in a blanket and placed him under arrest,” said Capt Sibiya. Speaking about his brother’s untimely passing, the deceased’s older sibling, Simiso Bhungane, said they have suffered a big loss as a family as the deceased was young and had big dreams. “He was a father of a three-year-old girl. My brother was not perfect, but we loved him. He was a person who respected everyone, and we have never received complaints about him from the community. Yes, he had his imperfections but he would never hurt anyone. He enjoyed listening to and playing music. We miss him so dearly,” said the grieving brother.
Bhungane added that he hopes the person who killed his brother rots in jail. “I don’t even want to know what happened between them, no one deserves to die like that. The person who killed my brother must rot in jail, that is the only way justice will be served,” said Bhungane. Capt Sibiya said the suspect appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court and was denied bail. “He is currently detained at Westville Correctional Services. We appreciate the partnership the community has with the police, working hand in hand and giving us tip-offs on such incidents. Through such partnerships we are able to get perpetrators of crime out of the communities and ensure that they are behind bars,” said Capt Sibiya.
