Man stabbed to death following dispute over incorrect change

THE family of a man who was stabbed to death during an argument over change in a taxi, expressed their gratitude at finally seeing his killer being sentenced.

Mpilo Shabalala was sitting in the front seat of a taxi which was headed to the Zungwini area on May 31 and as in most taxis, the people sitting in the front seat were given the responsibility of collecting the money and calculating the change.

No arguments broke out during the taxi ride and everyone seemed to have received their change.

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO READ: Lovers’ spat ends in murder-suicide

AND: Lovers Whatsapp quarrel leads to murder

When Mr Shabalala got off the taxi near his home, he was followed by Mpilo Mbatha and a friend.

Mbatha is said to have demanded that Mr Shabalala give them their change for the R100 with which they had paid in the taxi.

Shabalala is said to have responded by asking him why he had not requested the money from the driver of the taxi as all the money had been given to him.

When Mr Shabalala turned to leave he was stopped dead in his tracks by five stabs to his back.

Mbatha and his accomplice are said to have fled the scene, leaving Mr Shabalala to succumb to his injuries.

Community members, together with the Shabalala family, set out to find the suspects that very same day and after tracking them down, contacted the police.

It was later discovered that only Mbatha was guilty of having stabbed Mr Shabalala and a murder case was opened.

Mbatha has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for this brutal murder without a reason.