The boy found dead in a bin – Murder inquest still under investigation six months on
With the return to school this week, the former Sofunda Secondary School learner was supposed to enter Grade 11 and pursue his dreams of becoming a veterinarian.
Over six months have passed since the gruesome discovery of 16-year-old Lunga Zwelo Nkabinde’s lifeless body in a dustbin at his home in Extension 8, Mhluzi, with his potential murderer still at large.
On June 28, Lunga was found dead inside a green municipal bin outside his home’s bathroom. In the post-mortem examination, traces of the extremely toxic substance Aldicarb were found in his system.
When Lunga was removed from the dustbin, medical responders found he had vomited over himself.
Lunga resided with his father, Johannes Nkabinde, and tenant Fhadrack Mbatha. Fhadrack found Lunga’s remains in the early hours of the morning.
When the Middelburg Observer spoke to Fhadrack shortly after the grim revelation, he stated that at 06:30 he went to use the outside bathroom, and when he was finished, he turned around and was shocked to see Lunga dead, sitting in an upward foetal position in the dustbin.
With the return to school this week, the former Sofunda Secondary School learner was supposed to enter Grade 11 and pursue his dreams of becoming a veterinarian.
Johannes previously told the Observer, “My son was a quiet and loving boy. He worked hard in school.”
He also stated that Lunga was an avid karate fan and took weekly lessons.
Johannes was at work when a neighbour called to deliver the heartbreaking news, “Your son is gone.”
Nkosinathi Nkabinde, Lunga’s older brother, previously told the paper, “I do believe he was murdered. He wasn’t involved with drugs or gangs. I haven’t even seen him with a cigarette,” and that ‘his death is suspicious, he couldn’t have put himself in the dustbin’.
• Mhluzi police told the Observer today (January 16) that the docket is still under investigation and there are no witnesses to date.
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