VANDERBIJLPARK. – The death of Pakiso Donald Mazibuko (32), from Bophelong Extension 2 has left his family traumatized and devastated after he was stabbed and murdered in cold blood recently.

Mazibuko is reported to have gathered with his friends at his home before they left to drink at a local tavern. Upon leaving, Mazibuko told his friends to head back to his house as he wanted to stay behind. Mazibuko was murdered as he was walking home in the early hours of Sunday morning, 4 December.

Morena Lesia, a cousin says he was met by the gruesome scene on his way to go and visit Mazibuko at his home that morning.
“I heard people saying that there’s a body that has been found next to Sapphire Secondary school. I rushed there and I was able to positively identify my cousin by the clothes he was wearing.”

North Ster spoke to Palesa Lesia, cousin of Pakiso, who said she was stunned when police requested Pakiso’s identity card on Sunday morning.

“Pakiso and I live in the same yard. We heard noises coming from the house through the night. I was on my way to investigate the noise in the house as his friends partied the night away.

“Before I could get to the house, I saw my cousin Morena with the police. Morena immediately told me that Pakiso’s lifeless body had been discovered in an open veld not too far from where we live.

“I rushed to the scene as I did not believe what I was being told. When I arrived, I met police on the scene and they allowed me to see him. He was stabbed near the heart. He had also sustained wounds to his face. It’s almost like they used a knife to scratch his face.

“We believe that he was on his way home. What is shocking is that nothing was taken from him. He still had all his possessions including money. I feel like it was not a robbery, rather something personal,” Lesia said.

Vanderbijlpark Police spokesperson Sergeant Gertrude Makhale confirmed that a murder case docket was opened and that investigations are underway. Mazibuko was buried on Saturday.