Promising sailor murdered
Mossel Bay residents are mourning the loss of young and talented Khanya Mafuta (18), who died on Sunday, 2 October, after he was stabbed in the chest.
Khanya was a Grade 10 learner at Hillcrest Secondary School.
He represented South Africa in the World Sailing Youth Championships and had been sailing with the Skipper Foundation in Mossel Bay for the past four years.
Khanya and his sailing partner, Oliver Holden, sailed for South Africa at the championships in The Hague, Netherlands, in July. About 450 sailors from 69 countries participated in this 51st youth event. It was the first time ever for Khanya to travel out of the Cape and the first time ever on an aeroplane.
Khanya was attending a friend's birthday party in KwaNonqaba when the stabbing took place.
A 16-year-old Grade 9 learner from Hillcrest Secondary School was arrested shortly after the incident. Khanya's father, Norman Mafuta, told Mossel Bay Advertiser: "I am not a man of many words. What I can say is that we are hurting. Our hearts are broken."
Talented
Norman said Khanya's mother, Nomfesane, hadn't eaten since she heard the news. "On Sunday morning Khanya was taken to the Mossel Bay hospital, where he was declared dead. I was getting ready for work at around 04:30 when someone came to my house and told me Khanya was no more."
Hillcrest principal Ivan Kroneberg told the Advertiser the school was shocked to have lost yet another learner due to a stabbing incident. The Advertiser previously reported about learners who had died due to such crimes.
Kroneberg said he was sad a young and talented boy had lost his life in this way. "We were proud of
Khanya; he was a clever child." Kroneberg said children lived in dangerous neighbourhoods.
Sailing
Khanya's mentor, Elfie Holden, chair of the Skipper Foundation nonprofit organisation in Mossel Bay, said their hearts were broken.
"Khanya was part of the family and it's been very hard for us to accept. He was always a very special child in that he was really kind and considerate and always friendly. He treated other people with respect.
"He had so much potential and that breaks our hearts. He worked extremely hard on his sailing.
“He was committed and always turned up to do his training. He had just got his category E skipper's licence and finished a safety boat course.
“This coming month he was going to complete his instructor's course and was going to become an instructor. He was so humble."
Khanya has a brother who is 14 years old.
The 16-yearold suspect appeared in the Mossel Bay Magi-strate's Court on Tuesday, 4 October. The case was postponed to 10 October for a formal bail application. The teenager remains in custody.
Nomfesane said the family planned to have Khanya's funeral on Saturday, 15 October, at the God Visibility Church. A time has not yet been confirmed.