Youth killed in stabbing frenzy

A young man was killed in front of his family and friends in  a gang stabbing frenzy at the weekend.

Three others are fighting for their lives in hospital.

Tembani Bojana, 20, was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time on Saturday night when the Mdantsane gang set on him, stabbing him 22 times.

The gang, known as the Pitbulls, killed Bojana while he was trying to fix a broken vehicle at the roadside in NU16.

Before killing Bojana the gang, which is thought to have about 20 members, had stabbed a number of people at AMG bar and grill, a popular NU16 hangout, and snatched valuables.

It was while fleeing this scene that they came across Bojana, who was with friends and family – including two children.

No one knows why they attacked Bojana. They fled taking nothing.

Speaking to the Dispatch yesterday  his aunt Noxolo Jeke – who was also stabbed – said it happened at about 10pm.

“The group came our way as we were trying to fix a tyre.

“The men came carrying boxes of wine on their shoulders and approached us in an aggressive manner saying ‘We can also drive’.”

“My nephew and his friends asked them to leave” – a mistake, said Jeke, that cost her nephew his life.

The men drew knives and tried to stab the young men, who turned and ran. “When they noticed had not fled like the others they attacked him,” said Jeke.

“There were about 10 of them. I tried to block and protect him myself saying they must stop as they had already killed him.

“One of them stabbed him so deep and twisted the tool. I think that was the deepest wound on his neck,” said the distraught aunt.

“We screamed and cried as they were attacking him but no one ever came out to help us. We have just been left traumatised by the experience, we haven’t received any counselling. The mortuary said we need to bury him soon because his injuries are too severe and his body is damaged,”  Jeke said.

Bojana will be buried on Saturday at his Potsdam home.

The other victims of the gang’s rampage are fighting for their lives in Cecilia Makiwane Hospital.

The three AMG patrons have stab wounds to their faces, heads, backs, necks and arms.

Nophumelele Sitole from NU16, a mother of victim Andile Sitole, was devastated to learn of the attack on her son.

“He was caught in the fight as he was trying to fight for his friend, who was attacked by the group of men. He has stab wounds all over his body, one cut across his nose and mouth.

“There was blood everywhere in the lounge where he was stabbed,” Sitole said.

AMG staffer Fundiswa Dyasi said she had narrowly escaped being raped by one of the gang members, who forced himself on her.

“The bouncer came to me and said there was a fight outside. As soon as he turned away some of the suspects were already inside the lounge stabbing everyone in their way.  They found me and demanded money and took some valuables,” said Dyasi.

“We were all crying. One of them forced me to kiss him. He grabbed me by the pants and dragged me but was interrupted by a car that came by. He ran away thinking it was the police – that’s how I was saved from being raped,” Dyasi said.

Police have arrested seven youths  aged from 17 to 23. Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi said: “The arrested suspects are also linked to the stabbing to death of a 20-year-old man while attending to his broken down vehicle. He was with his relatives during the attack.”

The seven appeared in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

A formal bail application is due today. “More suspects are still at large. Police have recovered some property which was allegedly taken at ,” Mbi said.