According to his enraged uncle, Thabo Johnson, Vincent ‘Wago’ Johnson (28) was having a bath at around 19:00 when his friend came in and stabbed him. He says his nephew tried to give chase but collapsed on the pavement where he lay, gasping for breath until he arrived.

Thabo was woken up by Vincent’s younger sister, 13-year-old Zanele, who was in tears when she related the incident. He quickly rushed to where Vincent was lying and took off his T-shirt to cover the wound and tried, in vain, to resuscitate him. According to Thabo, they waited for an hour and a half for the ambulance to arrive. He believes his nephew would still be alive if it had only arrived in time. ‘They said they were late because the drivers were changing shifts,’ he said angrily.

 

Sgt Kelebogile Moleko, the provincial spokesperson for the SAPS confirmed the incident and said the information suggests that the two were engaged in a fight over a girlfriend when the victim took out a knife and tried to stab the suspect.

‘The suspect allegedly grabbed the knife and stabbed the victim in the chest. The latter allegedly collapsed and was certified dead at the scene.’

The police have successfully traced and arrested the suspect, who appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 3 May.

Thabo says the family does not believe the police’s account of the incident as his nephew’s phone and money were missing. He describes Vincent as humble and quiet and says the family is distraught at his passing. ‘We want nothing but justice to be served because he did not deserve to die like that,’ he said.

Vincent’s mother, Johannah, was heartbroken to hear that her firstborn had been killed. She says it was even more painful because his three children will grow up without a father. ‘He leaves behind 8-year-old Mxholisi, 5-year-old Molebogeng, and 2-year-old Kedibone,’ she said.

Vincent will be buried this Saturday and the funeral service will take place in the Promosa Secondary School hall from 07:00 to 09:00.