Five men stabbed to death

FIVE men in the province died from stab wounds at the weekend.

Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said a 23-year-old man died after he was stabbed twice in the torso during a quarrel with two men on Friday night in Tikitiki village in Tsolo.

“Apparently an argument ensued between the three of them, and one of the two [other] men drew a knife and stabbed the victim. The victim died later in hospital,” he said.

A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident, and is due to appear in the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court today.

● On Saturday, in another Tsolo village, a 20-year-old man died from knife wounds he sustained in a quarrel with another man during a traditional homecoming ceremony following initiation.

Fatyela said the incident took place at Nombodlelana village, and that a man aged 24 was later arr He was also due to appear in court today.

● In another incident, in a tavern at Mfabantu village, a man, 22, was stabbed to death while involved in a fight with a group of people. A man, 26, had been arrested and is due to appear in court in Tsolo.

● A Qumbu man, 41, died after being stabbed during an argument at Debeza village.

Fatyela said a suspect, 41, had been arrested shortly afterwards and charged with murder.

He is due to appear in the Qumbu Magistrate’s Court today.

● On Saturday night, a 29-year-old Libode man was stabbed to death while drinking at a local tavern.

Fatyela said no one had been arr but the suspect was known to police. “These [fatal stabbings] are a big concern to us as the police. But even more worrying is the fact that they all involve alcohol,” he said.

● Meanwhile, two men, aged 33 and 39, were arrested while in possession of a stash of dagga and mandrax pills during a stop-andsearch operation in Qumbu.

Fatyela said police recovered dagga worth about R17 300 and 39 mandrax pills worth about R3 900 on the black market, stashed inside bags carried by the suspects. They were due to appear in court today. —