‘I want to sit down with him and face him; he must tell me why he had to take my son’s life. I do not know what happened, whether they fought or what. Did he have to kill him? I don’t think he understands what my family is going through right now.’

These are the heart-wrenching words of the mayor’s wife, also the mother of Mike Maimane, who was brutally killed on 18 February.

Mrs Malebitso Khumalo spoke to the Herald after 22-year-old Johannes Vumile Vemendleni was arrested last Thursday. According to Brig. Sabata Mokgwabone, police spokesperson, he appeared in court on Friday and was charged with the murder of Mike Maimane. The suspect was remanded in custody until 3 March for further investigation. The motive of the murder is still unknown,’ said Mokgwabone.
Mrs Khumalo says she is relieved about the arrest and adds that they will wait to hear from the courts.
‘The family is trying to cope with the tragedy and take each day as it comes,’ she says. ‘We have put everything in God’s hands. He is the one who will pull us through this difficult ordeal.’
She says Mike’s little boy, 5-year-old Siphosethu Nxezo was restless after the funeral on Saturday night and cried for his dad. ‘He is confused about what happened. Although we try and explain to him, he keeps asking for his dad.
‘Mike’s younger sister, Thulaganyo Khumalo is angry but she was brave enough to go back to school a few days after the tragedy,’ said Mrs Khumalo.