A Grade 12 pupil at Mulenga High School, Pfano “Screamer” Nare (18), was shot in the back of his head on Friday night and later died in Mankweng Hospital near Polokwane.

The incident happened on the Manyii Bridge at around 20:00 in Nzhelele.

According to the deceased's 21-year-old male friend, who was with him when the incident took place, three of them were walking home from doing an odd job at a nearby village, when they noticed an on-coming vehicle. The driver stopped near them and observed them briefly before he passed.

“We didn't even look at him as he drove away,” said the deceased's friend, who couldn't be named to protect his identity as police investigations are still continuing.

Soon after they heard the car reversing and the strident sound of several gun shots filled the air. Screamer collapsed in front of his friend, while the other man ran away. The friend tried to help Screamer to his feet, thinking that he had tripped. “But my friend couldn't speak and that was when I realised he had a bullet wound to his head,” said the friend. He said that he then rushed to Screamer's home to notify his family about the incident.

The spokesperson for the Mphephu police, W/O Lazarus Netshidzati, confirmed that a suspect was arrested and initially charged with attempted murder while the victim was still being treated at the provincial hospital. “The 56-year-old Esrom Mabirimisa appeared in court on Monday and his case was postponed to 6 May for further investigations,” said Netshidzati.

Netshidzati added that the suspect's charge was changed from attempted murder to murder, after the victim had reportedly died in the early hours of Monday.

According to the police, Mabirimisa had laid a charge of attempted car hi-jacking against the deceased and the other two men who were with him. It is said that the suspect claims that the three men had gathered a heap of stones by the roadside and were throwing the stones at his car.

During the incident, it is alleged, the suspect fired at least two shots in the air and five shots towards the people whom he saw as possible car-hijackers, said the police.

The deceased's sister, Vhonani Nare, stated that she still did not understand why her brother had to die such a cruel death. “It's unbelievable that my brother is dead,” she said. The acting principal at Mulenga High School described Pfano as a good boy who had an ability to endear himself to fellow pupils and teachers with his light, jovial conversations. “He was a brilliant pupil who even managed to score an average of 80% in the March exams.”

Pfano will be buried at Manyii cementery on Saturday at 06:00.

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