Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Culture of violence claims another life
THE GRANDMOTHER of a matriculant who was stabbed to death last week said she forgives his killers.
Hlumisa Xaki, 17, was allegedly attacked by two youths while waiting for a school bus in Sir Lowry’s Pass. The two boys, aged 18 and 14, were arrested by the police following the fatal stabbing.
“I want their mothers when passing me not to feel sorry for me or act in a different way,” said Gene Xaki, 64. “I have forgiven them. Nothing I do or say will bring back my son. I call him my son because I raised him. They must greet when they see me. I hold no grudge against them.”
Sir Lowry’s Pass has two groups of youth gangsters called the Horribles and the Mobsters.
The groups are divided by the main road and fight based on territories. They are made up of high school pupils and other school-going age children who no longer attend school. There are reports of adults also being part of the groups.
No one knows why there are fights between the gangs. Locals say the fights have taken the lives of many young people in the area.
When the Weekend Argus approached the groups to find out what they fight for, none of them would say. “Hlumi had an encounter with one of the kids when he went to cut his hair,” said Xaki.
“He said they told him they did not like the way he looked at them.
“I am not mad at anyone. I leave it all to God.”
She said Hlumi was a quiet boy. Xaki showed the Weekend Argus pictures of five young boys who she said also had died after being stabbed. Two of the boys had been her neighbours.
“I always thought I understood the pain the parents of these boys felt when they experienced death. I did not know but now I feel it.”
Hlumi’s uncle, Ivan, blamed the lack of police visibility for the rising stabbings.
Sir Lowry’s Pass has a satellite police station. The station was robbed in October. Three men made off with firearms, cellphones and a laptop.
The two boys who were arrested are expected to appear in court on March 10 for a formal bail hearing.
Hlumi will be buried today.