Cops probe killing of a teenager by gang

TEENAGE gang rivalry has been blamed by Nyanga residents for the death of 16- year- old Masixole Khubonga, pictured, who is alleged to have been stoned to death by a group of about 50 near his home on Tuesday night.

An eyewitness, who declined to be named, said Masixole was in the company of friends when a group of about 50 young men, believed to be part of the AmaPalestine gang started chasing him and his friends. Masixole ’s friends managed to escape, but he was caught.

“They stabbed him and threw stones at him until he died. Some people tried to call the police but they did not come until it was too late. The incident took about 30 minutes. The perpetrators are known in the area but no one wants to come forward and their parents are hiding them,” said the witness.

It all happened at around 8pm, he said.

Masixole’s mother, Pamela Khubonga, 34, said she also blames residents who saw what was happening and only alerted her after her son was dead.

She believed intervention could have saved her son’s life.

Police also took too long to arrive at the scene, she said, and accused them of notconducting routine patrols in the area despite it being a known hotspot for violent gang activity.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer November Filander confirmed the incident and said a case of murder had been opened but no arrests had been made.

Filander said police were unable to confirm whether the incident was gang-related at this stage, stating that they were still trying to find the motive for the murder.

He said no witnesses had been found.

One of the community leaders, who declined to be named, said gang rivalry was “worsening” and that Khubonga’s death was a result of gang violence “was no surprise”.

“Until the police stop denying that these murders are gang-related, the problem will never be solved… the police need to bring members of both gangs together and try to stop these killings,” he said.

Masixole ’ s stepfather, Sivuyile Nxusa, 35, said he was heartbroken by the death.

Community leader Arthur Ngindana said a meeting was held on Wednesday night in an attempt to try to identify the perpetrators.

Police are investigating the murder of a 25-year-old man in Bishop Lavis on Wednesday night.

Provincial police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said around 9.20pm, the man, who has not yet been identified, was at sitting in the lounge of his End Road home, watching television when shots were fired through the door, hitting him in the upper right side of his chest.

No arrests have been made. A murder docket has been opened.