VANDERBIJLPARK – A 24-year-old man, Paballo Mahloane, was found dead with wounds in Vanderbijlpark Cemetery, just meters away from his home.
The shocking discovery has left his family reeling in shock and deep mourning.
Paballo was last seen by his family on Friday afternoon when he left home to visit friends in Sharpeville.
When he did not return home by evening, his family grew increasingly concerned.
Tragically, their worst fears were confirmed the next morning.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, Paballo’s mother received a devastating phone call informing her of his lifeless body found in the cemetery.
The grief-stricken family quickly rushed to the scene, only to be confronted with a horrific sight.
Paballo’s body lay on the ground, marked by a bullet wound on the back of his arm, with two used cartridges found next to his body.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, David Mahloane, Paballo’s cousin and family spokesperson, expressed the deep sorrow and disbelief gripping the family.
“He was a loving and kind person, always smiling and full of life. To lose him in such a violent manner is unbearable. We always read about such stories in the media and only then you would feel the pain of those grieving families. Today the very same dark cloud is hovering over our family and we are all left devastated,” he added.
“His mother is heartbroken. We don’t understand why this happened. If I could take her pain, I would do so. She raised me and not on a single day have I witnessed her so scarred,” he said.
The Mahloane family, struggling to come to terms with their loss, hopes that justice will be served.
“We want answers. We want to know who did this and why. Paballo deserves that much. He didn’t deserve to die so brutally,” David emphasized.
According to Vanderbijlpark police spokesperson, Sergeant Sabelo Sigcu, police have opened a murder case and launched an investigation into the incident.
“It is alleged that the deceased was found lying down at Vanderbijlpark cemetery with an open wound on his back shoulder covered with blood. The suspects are currently unknown,” said Sigcu.
