A young man who lost his life after intervening in an argument between his mother and stepfather was laid to rest in Zwelihle over the weekend.
Zipho Mpazwa was killed on 25 October and buried on Saturday 5 November, the day before his 17th birthday.
His mother Thabisa Mpazwa, who shares the same birthday, also sustained wounds to the head, requiring stitches, in the same attack.
Nosipho Daniels, a GBV activist and friend of the family, said Mpazwa and her younger son have been left severely traumatised.
The younger sibling saw how his mother’s ex-husband allegedly stabbed his brother twice in the back when he tried to intervene in an argument.
The former husband, said Daniels, reportedly returned to the couple’s home in Eerste River on the fatal day, insisting he wanted a television to be placed in the room where he wanted to stay.
“Thabisa sent me a video at about 18:00 showing how he was throwing things around,” she said. “She informed me later she had followed him to the police station where he wanted to open a case against her.
“The police accompanied them home and left again when they believed the issue had been resolved.
Mpazwa intended leaving the house with her children and went into the suspect’s room to get a bag. Zipho reportedly tried to intervene when an argument reportedly broke out between the estranged couple.
Daniels said she received a call from Mpazwa saying the suspect was stabbing Zipho and requested she contact the police.
The teenager sustained two stab wounds to the neck and wounds to his lower back.
He fled from his attacker but collapsed at the gate.
The younger brother managed to escape unharmed. Zipho was rushed to hospital, but doctors couldn’t save him.
Sergeant Wesley Twigg, a provincial police spokesperson, confirmed a murder case was being investigated by Kleinvlei police.
“A 46-year-old male was arrested in connection with the murder and made a court appearance in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court,” he stated.
Daniels reported she had since been in contact with the national Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, to plead for more to be done to ensure justice is served for victims of gender-based violence.
“More should be done to enforce protection orders to secure the safety of victims,” she said.
“Perpetrators shouldn’t just be able to be released on bail. A threat is a threat, and the person will rest only once he has done what he had set out to do.”
