While the rest of the country was commemorating Youth Day last Thursday, an obsessed man allegedly stabbed and killed his ex-lover at Pfumbada village in the Nzhelele area. Residents are still recovering after the shock of the brutal killing.

According to the police, Given Maduvha (27) had visited his ex-lover, Ms Mashudu Khumela (22), and demanded to see their three-year-old daughter. A disagreement later led to an argument. The police report states that Khumela then decided that it was better for her to go to the nearby Mphephu police station to apply for a protection order against Maduvha.

The police report also states that while she was on her way to the police station, accompanied by her sister, Maduvha followed her, trying to stop her. Another argument ensued and Maduvha allegedly produced a knife. Although Ms Khumela´s sister tried to intervene, Maduvha allegedly stabbed his former lover in the neck, back and chest, and she fell fell over the side of the Nzhelele bridge, which she was crossing at the time. She died at the scene.

The spokesperson for the Siloam police, W/O Itani Muila, confirmed the incident to have happened at 14:30 on Youth Day. "We were alerted by members of the community who saw the incident happening. When we arrived at the scene, Ms Khumela was lying dead on the ground and the suspect had run away," he said.

Muila added that a case of murder had been opened against the suspect, who was arrested later that day. "Members of our investigation team managed to arrest the suspect at Madombidzha outside Louis Trichardt the same day," said Muila, indicating that investigations are continuing.

Members of the Khumela family say they do not have money to bury the deceased. "We had planned to bury her tomorrow (Saturday), but the problem is that we do not have enough money to do so," said Mashudu´s mother, Phophi. Pfumbada village falls under ward 34 of the Makhado Municipality.

The mayor of Makhado Municipality, Cllr Mavhungu Luruli, sent her condolences to the Khumela family. She added that she condemned domestic violence. "It is very cruel and the incident really traumatised both members of the community and the deceased´s family," she said.

She added that there was a need for youth structures to make a call and support young people to go to school, so that they can become educated in a way that they are able to handle problems. Luruli called upon all community-based structures to give their support to the family.

Maduvha briefly appeared before the Thohoyandou Magistrate´s Court on Monday, and the case was postponed to July 27 for further investigations. He remains in custody.