Daily Sun (April 3 2014) - THE drunks in the tavern were making a joke when they told Njabulo he had killed his friend after hitting him with a brick. But the April Fool's joke turned into a killer joke when Njabulo went home and killed himself.
HIS BODY WAS FOUND HANGING FROM A TREE BEHIND HIS ROOM.
The two friends were drinking in a tavern in Thengani A Village at KwaNgwanase, northern KZN. But then they started arguing.
The argument turned into a fight and Njabulo Mngomezulu (26) hit Zithulele Nsele (28) over the head with a brick. Zithulele was taken to hospital but when Njabulo asked what had happened to Zithulele, one of the drunken friends made a joke.
"Zithulele is dead," said the joker.
Njabulo didn't think it was a joke.
He panicked and ran out of the tavern, not realising the drunks in the tavern were pulling an April Fool's joke on him.
He went home and told his father he had killed his friend.
"My son was crying when he stormed into the house," said his father, Ngagayi Mngomezulu (56).
"He said he didn't mean to kill his friend."
He said he was only upset because his friend spilled his beer at a tavern.
Ngagayi said he told Njabulo to calm down and called Njabulo's elder brother.
"Njabulo spoke to his brother, begging him to lend him money for the friend's burial. He seemed calm after the conversation and said he needed to lie down," said Ngagayi.
That was the last time Njabulo was seen alive. His sister later discovered his body hanging from a tree behind his room.
Ngagayi refused to be photographed or give the SunTeam Njabulo's picture because he said it would shame the family.
A man at the tavern said they were just joking. "We were just trying to scare him," said the man who wished not to be named.
"Zithulele was released from hospital. He is also shocked that Njabulo killed himself."
Captain Thulani Zwane said Emanguzi cops are investigating an inquest docket and the circumstances around the incident.
Local induna George Tembe condemned Njabulo's action.
"His father came to report the matter to me. People in the village need to learn how to deal with difficult situations," said Tembe.
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