Mpumalanga teen stabs 3 CPF patrollers, kills 1

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 allegedly stabbed them at about 21:00 on Monday.

According to reports, a girl allegedly approached a group of CPF members, who were patrolling the streets of Mpatseni Trust near Hazyview, Mpumalanga, and asked them to help her retrieve her cellphone. She said her 17-year-old boyfriend had allegedly taken the phone from her by force two days earlier.

The patrollers went to the boyfriend’s house. His mother was there and they asked her to speak to her son and convince him to hand over the phone, but she allegedly locked him in a room.

The boy managed to get out using a spare key. Pandemonium broke out when he allegedly went berserk with a knife, stabbing three of the patrollers. One was killed and the other two were injured.

Difference Fankomo (35) was stabbed in the chest and forehead and died as a result of 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,” says 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 community members apprehended him and handed him over to the Masoyi police.

Police investigations led to the recovery of a knife suspected to be the one used by the suspect.

“[As] the suspect is a minor, police investigators are working in collaboration with probation officers in this matter,” says Mdhluli.

He adds that police are still investigating the motive for the attack.

Meanwhile, it has been established that the suspect might have been involved in 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 was reluctant to come forward, however, police investigations are ongoing.

Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi condemned the attack and expressed his appreciation to the community for apprehending the suspect.

“We cannot allow a situation of lawlessness to prevail. Whoever commits [a] crime should know there are consequences. We hope justice will be served for the victims,” he says.

The suspect is expected to appear in the local magistrate’s court soon.