Imagine reading in the newspaper that you are dead, brutally killed, allegedly after trying to rob somebody.
This horrible scenario is exactly what Thabang Letsela from Zwelihle experienced recently when reading about the case of Mzukiseni Mandoyi, who appeared in the Hermanus Magistrates’ Court in connection with the murder of Sisipho Mayile.
News of Mayile’s death made headlines.
Her body was found in bushes in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on Friday 25 January, a few days after she was reported as missing.
The National Prosecuting Authority and local police confirmed Mandoyi was out on bail in connection with a murder that occurred in Zwelihle on 2 December 2021.
The court erroneously provided the Hermanus Times with Letsela’s name as that of the victim who was gunned down.
He was extremely distraught about this error.
“In my culture it as seen as bad luck to say somebody is dead while they are still alive.
“Added to that, I am worried about what could happen if this man (the accused) should read that I am still alive. This is causing a lot of problems.”
Letsela informed Hermanus Times that he had been contacted by the prosecutor who had supplied his name in error to the newspaper.
“He apologised about the mistake, but I still don’t know how this mistake occurred,” said Letsela.
“The only explanation I can think of is that I may have attended the scene as part of my duties as paramedic.”
Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, has since confirmed the victim’s name is, in fact, Siphelo Sikoti.