Mpatseni boy (17) goes berserk with knife, stabs three CPF patrollers, kills one
The victims had gone to the boy’s home to retrieve the cellphone when he allegedly suddenly attacked them.
A Mpatseni Trust Community Policing Forum (CPF) patroller died and two others were rushed to a clinic with stab wounds after a 17-year-old boy had allegedly stabbed the three at about 21:00 on Monday, November 11.
According to reports, a girl allegedly approached a group of CPF members who were patrolling the streets of Mpatseni Trust near Hazyview and asked them to help her retrieve her cellphone her 17-year-old boyfriend had allegedly taken from her by force two days earlier.
The patrollers went to the boyfriend’s house and found his mother there. They asked the mother to speak to her son and convince him to hand over the phone, but she allegedly locked him away in a room.
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The boy managed to get out using a spare key. Pandemonium broke loose as he allegedly went berserk with a knife, stabbing three of the patrollers, killing one and injuring two others.
Difference Fankomo (35) was stabbed in the chest and forehead and succumbed to his injuries.
“The victims are said to have been attacked by a male suspect who was in possession of a knife, and he is fingered in the whole saga,” said a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli. “Whether a case was opened with regard to the issue of the cellphone is a bone of contention. The fact remains that a CPF member was stabbed and sadly died, while two other CPF members were stabbed, but survived to tell the tale.”
The two injured patrollers were rushed to Phola Nsikasi Clinic for medical treatment.
The boy tried to escape, but some community members apprehended and handed him over to the Masoyi police. The police investigations later led to the recovery of a knife suspected to be the one that had been used.
“Due to the fact that the suspect is a minor, police investigators are working in collaboration with probation officers in this matter,” said Mdhluli. He said the police were still investigating the motive for the attack.
Meanwhile, it has also been established that the suspect might have been involved in yet another murder in which a 50-year-old man was stabbed to death in August 2023. Reports suggest that the matter did not go far because the witnesses became reluctant to come forward, however, police investigations in this particular matter are still ongoing.
The acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, strongly condemned the attack of the CPF patrollers and expressed his appreciation for the community for apprehending the suspect. “We cannot allow a situation of lawlessness to prevail. Whoever commits crime should know there are consequences. We hope justice will be served for the victims,” he said.
The suspect is expected to appear in the local magistrate’s court soon.
