POLITICS

"Night vigil of death!" - Daily Sun

"Melusi hacked to death as he remembered his murdered friend..." - front page lead, January 12 2015

Daily Sun (January 12 2015) - MELUSI WAS at a night vigil to honour a friend who had died . . . but it cost him his life.

A gang fight broke out among the many mourners in the house and Melusi was attacked.

ALTHOUGH HE WAS HACKED AND STABBED ABOUT 15 TIMES, HE DIDN'T DIE IMMEDIATELY.

In a desperate attempt to escape the attack, Melusi Maxhanti (23) ran down the street but he was too badly wounded to survive. He died at the door of the outside toilet at a neighbour's house.

It appears the gang was targeting young people at the vigil. Melusi's brother, Sabelo Mhuma (25) was seriously injured when he too was hacked on the head, shoulders and arms with pangas and knives.

Melusi's older brother, Mpho Mhuma (35), who apparently saw Melusi dying, was not available to speak toDaily Sun as he and Sabelo are in hiding.

Nonosi Sibiya (51), Melusi's aunt from Mofolo South in Soweto, said Mpho told them a gang started a fight.

"Melusi was hacked and stabbed several times all over his body," she said.

"He tried to run and hide in other people's yards, but he was found dead five houses away."

Nonosi said they were still sleeping in the early hours of yesterday morning when Mpho called and told them his two young brothers had been stabbed.

"He told us that Melusi was dead and Sabelo was in hospital," she said.

"We went to the house and found Melusi lying in a pool of blood next to the toilet."

She said he was a well-mannered young man who always respected elders.

"He was not a gang member and he died for nothing," she said.

Dan Makhoba (70), the owner of the house where Melusi died said it was bad luck for him and his family.

Makhoba said he was woken by the noise outside his house.

"When I went outside the yard was full of people and police. I saw a young man lying next to my toilet with blood streaming from his body," he said.

"When his family arrived he was already dead."

He said Melusi's family have agreed that they will perform rituals after the funeral to cleanse his yard.

Sabelo was discharged some hours later.

Vuyo Xakane, the man who's vigil Melusi was attending, was buried at West Park Cemetery, Joburg, yesterday.

He is alleged to have been shot by a cop after an argument about a bribe.

Police spokesman Kay Makhubela confirmed that an inquest docket was opened at Moroka Police Station and police are investigating. The death as not yet been confirmed as a murder.

See the Daily Sun's new website for more on this and other stories....

The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 274 165 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 2nd Quarter 2014) and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.

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