The family of a man from Moorton, Chatsworth, who was violently stabbed to death, are finally seeing the wheels of justice turn after the arrest of the accused.

According to Rising Sun, Lusaka resident Riley Wesley was stabbed outside a local tavern in July 2024. The accused, who was known to him, remained on the run until now.

Chatsworth SAPS communications officer Captain Cheryl Pillay said: “The police tracing team arrested a murder accused on March 28 at a mall in Springfield, Durban. It is alleged that in July 2024, the accused stabbed a victim at a tavern. The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he died.”

Police used social media to lure the accused to the mall, where he was apprehended. The accused, believed to be a sangoma, appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The victim’s father, Kevin, and brother, Alrae, attended court, where, with the assistance of Pastor Michael Padayachee, they held a placard demonstration.

According to Alrae, his brother was stabbed three times in the back and transported to a local hospital. He died three days later.

“We do not know the details of the incident, but we believe an intoxicated game of pool was the catalyst for their altercation. Riley was a self-employed man who worked as a carpenter, tiler, and more. He lived with my father and was the household’s breadwinner. He was also a father to a five-year-old girl. Although the incident and motive are a mystery, we want justice. There are reports that he is involved in another two murders, before and after killing my brother. We were also told that he is a sangoma and was living in Inchanga while evading arrest. This man cannot get away with his crimes,” he said.

Padayachee added that he watched Riley grow up as he helped with the local church.

“He would work in my church. We had a kids’ club at the time, and Riley would always come early to assist us in setting up chairs, making sandwiches, pouring juice, and so on. He was a good boy, and to lose his life in such a tragic manner is heartbreaking. No parent should have to endure this. His death has disturbed the district because he was well-known and well-liked by the community. He assisted people in any way he could,” concluded Padayachee.

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