What started off as an act of parental protection, where a father was shielding his daughters from aggressive potential dating partners, sparked a bloody confrontation that left two people dead and a trail of destruction.
A home, which days ago had been a place of safety and tranquillity, on Friday turned into a bloody scene.
It was the continuation of festive season celebrations when a plan by young boys to fish out potential dating partners from their home turned the day into one of bitter fighting between the young lads and the girls’ family, marking it as the worst violent outburst by residents to hit the close-knit rural community of Mayiwane in recent years.
One of the boys, Nikky Simelane, aged 23, was allegedly killed in a gruesome attack during a confrontation with the girls’ father, while two others had to be rushed to hospital after they were seriously injured during the bloody confrontation, which took place in broad daylight at a Vilane homestead.
A resident said the confrontation between the boys and the head of the Vilane homestead caused a serious rift, with the remaining boys ganging up against the family afterwards.
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Mayiwane escalated into violent clashes involving a mob.
A family member told this publication that after one of the boys, who attempted to fish out potential dating partners from the homestead, was allegedly stabbed to death with a spear, others retreated to a nearby shop, where they called for back-up, resulting in a violent mob descending to the Vilane homestead a few hours later, seeking revenge.
Once at the premises, the boys are said to have asked for the person who had allegedly stabbed their friend.
There was no immediate response. An argument erupted.
A witness said it was at the height of the altercation that some of the boys pulled out weapons ranging from bush knives and stones, smashing doors and windows of a house in which they thought their targeted person was hiding.
Some of the mob members reportedly entered the house and went on to vandalise furniture, until they came across a male they thought was the one who had allegedly killed their friend.
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The perceived adversary was stabbed and further hacked multiple times, causing him to fall on the ground with blood oozing from his body.
More weapons were drawn out during the skirmish. This resulted in others going after the man who they believed had initiated the fight. His body was badly mangled, with the aggressors throwing whatever they could lay their hands on over the bloodied body, including chairs and tables.
Children, who had been playing outside, were seen fleeing the violent scene, as the crowd of over 10 boys had become rowdy. A family member said he was not certain about where exactly the bush knives came from, but it is suspected that some of the attackers came to the homestead armed.
Blood was splattered all over the place and the mob did not just end there, as they continued vandalising everything they came across, including a visitor’s motor vehicle, which had its windows smashed. The visitor came all the way from South Africa, only to find himself immersed in the violent confrontation.
Both victims were later taken to a nearby health facility where they were declared dead. A member of the Vilane family said their stabbed relative was transported to the health facility by paramedics.
A neighbour recalled that he heard the commotion at around 7pm after watching a soccer match and went to investigate. However, he said even before he could reach the place, he came across one of the boys carrying a bloodied body, rushing towards the entrance of the compound.
“When I saw this, I thought to myself this was way beyond my competence and I ran straight to another group of people at the nearby shops,” he said.
The violent confrontation was reported to the police. Police officers, who responded to the scene, found paramedics already at the homestead.
A family member said it must have been an hour later.
“There was blood all over the place. The tranquillity of the place had suddenly been transformed into a violent scene,” narrated another shocked eyewitness.
The deceased were identified as Nikky Simelane, aged 23, and Siganda Vilane (46).
Acting Chief Police Information and Communications Officer (PICO) Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the violent incident when contacted yesterday.
She said the matter was subject to an active investigation, but indicated that so far there were residents who were helping investigators with information relating to the conflict.
