Murder victim’s family still want closure

The case against five former Sizimele High School pupils, who are
accused of murdering fellow pupil, Bongani Nkabinde, in 2013 has been dragging on for three years.
Family and friends last week attended in Newcastle Magistrate’s Court where Magistrate Ian Colditz postponed the matter to February 16.

The accused, Sphamanda Simon Mazibuko (24) Thabani Langa (23) Sbongiseni Ndaba (23) Bhekani Mazibuko (22) and Sandile Shoba (21), are accused of stabbing to death Bongani in October 2013 at the school in the Dannhauser area.

They are all charged with murder and being in possession of dangerous weapon(s).

They are currently out on R1000 bail each.

The five accused were arrested on October 28 after the murder which witnesses said was sparked after a quarrel between two traditional Zulu dance groups, the Bananas and Abaphumeleli from the Allen and JT Mbabane rural areas.

Bongani was allegedly hit with an iron knobkerrie during an assembly at the school. He was taken to a nearby clinic where he was declared dead.

Despite the disruption the matric examinations went ahead at the school. The dead boy’s uncle, Simon Nkabinde, 56, said the family now want closure.

He described Bongani as “a quiet and respectful child.’  It is alleged that the pupils had cut the fence to gain entry into the school premises with their weapons.

An earlier fight between the school groups was stopped when a teacher intervened.