Tragic end for teen hostage
Three suspects held as youth found dead
THE body of a Mbizana teenager kidnapped earlier this month for a R6 000 ransom was found at the weekend in the toilets of the school he attended.
Vusumzi “Mzu” Mabude, who was due to turn 14 in April, was kidnapped on February 3.
His body, with hands tied behind his back and a piece of cloth stuck in his mouth, was found on Saturday at Nkantolo Junior Secondary School where he was in Grade 9.
Three people, aged between 25 and 50, including a relative and two employees from the school, were arrested for the crime.
Due to the nature of the crime, the suspects can only be named once they have pleaded.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Luxolo Tyali said the three appeared in Mbizana Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
“They were charged with kidnapping and murder and the case was postponed to February 21 for a formal bail application,” Tyali said.
The Daily Dispatch yesterday visited Nkantolo village, the birthplace of O R Tambo 100 years ago.
Villagers spoke of their horror and disgust at the crime, which has rocked the community.
Some said it had tarnished the name of the village.
Vusumzi’s mother, Nomthunzi Bhekiswa Mabude, 43, was mourning the loss of her first-born and was being comforted by her sister-in-law, Lingomso Mabude, when the Dispatch visited.
“They should have instead killed me. I will never in my life forget February 3 and February 11.”
She said she was battling to grasp the idea that a family member may have been involved in the crime.
The only thing the heartbroken mother wants is for the killers to tell the world why they killed her son and to “rot and die” in prison.
Family spokesman Mzukisi Tambo said the kidnapping took place on February 3.
“After he came home from school, he ate and then told his mother that he was going to look for the family cattle in the veld. “He never came back. “His mother went to look for him everywhere but there was no trace of him.”
Tambo said they then went to the police station to report him missing.
“While at the police station, we received a call that someone had sent a SMS to some family members saying they’ve got the boy.
“The SMS was forwarded to us and the man was demanding R6 000 to have my nephew released.
“We reported that to the police station and an investigation was launched,” said Tambo.
He said when they called the number, the man who answered demanded that the money be deposited at Spar or Shoprite.
“When his mother called to say she would deposit the money but first wanted to hear the voice of her son, the man said she must call back in five minutes.
“When she called again, the man said he had decided that the boy should not speak to her.”
He said the family deposited R2 000 on recommendation of the police.
“I thought I was going to see my son on Saturday as the caller promised to bring him here.
“But then I was told the kidnappers have been arrested on Saturday and my son was found brutally murdered and his body pushed into a toilet,” Mabude said.
“One of the arrested suspects said they killed him on the day of kidnapping in his classroom.”
They believe family squabbles were the motive.
Vusumzi will be buried on Sunday in Nkantolo Village. —