Duduza – Nonkululeko Xaba (40), the cousin of Karabo Mokoena, was on her way to work when she unknowingly walked past her relative’s body.
“I was walking to work when I walked past a group of people sobbing near a body in a pool of blood near Ndundula Street in the early hours of June 10. When I got to work, someone from the large group I had passed came to fetch me, asking me to confirm if I recognised him. When I got to the scene I noticed his shoes and the back of his head.
“When the police arrived on the scene, the first thing they did was to turn him over, and at that moment, I could identify him. I confirmed his identity to the police and immediately called my uncle to make him aware of what had happened,” she said.
Xaba confirmed that the deceased had a gunshot wound to his neck and was declared dead on the scene by paramedics. She said the 22-year-old spent the previous day with his friends at a local tavern.
“He was last seen by his friends leaving the tavern and walking home in the early hours of Monday morning. Surprisingly, Karabo was not robbed of his belongings.
“He had his clothes on, R150 in his pocket and a pack of chips he was seen buying before leaving the tavern,” added Xaba.
Xaba mentioned that Karabo’s friends told them he did not argue with anyone at the tavern.
“He was a sweet boy and did not like trouble,” said Xaba.
Karabo’s older brother, Sandile Mokoena, expressed sadness about his brother’s death.
“My younger brother was brutally murdered for no reason. He was a happy soul and was thrilled that he had recently found a job as a waiter at a restaurant in Braamfontein. To top it all off, he was over the moon about being a first-time father to his beautiful daughter.
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“My brother only worked for two weeks at his new job when, unfortunately, his life was cut short. We are saddened by his passing and had so many plans together,” he added.
Ekurhuleni police spokesperson Captain Neldah Sekgobela said the police received a report of a male lying in a passage.
“Upon arrival, they found a male lying on the ground with blood on his upper body. He sustained gunshot wounds on his left side and upper body.
“The Duduza police registered a murder case. There was no mention of whether or not anyone was arrested,” said Sekgobela.