Marketing Manager of Westgate Shopping Centre, Nick Scott has responded to the shocking murder of a 19-year-old victim who was stabbed to death at a bus stop on the premises last week.
“On Friday 25 October, at around 4pm, the security of Westgate Shopping Centre received a call from a taxi driver, informing them that he had witnessed two young men arguing at the Westgate Bus Terminal, and that one of the boys subsequently had been stabbed.
“It is believed that the boys were involved in a gambling game that went wrong, and as a result one of the boys ended up stabbing the other to death. The young man that was stabbed, named Hlongwane Siyabonga, was believed to be a student attending Roodepoort College.
“Immediately after receiving the phone call from the taxi driver, Westgate Regional Shopping Centre alerted ER24, unfortunately upon arrival the student was declared dead on the scene.
“Westgate’s Duty Manager ‘Netshidzati’ together with the armed reaction officers cordoned off the crime scene and started to look for witnesses. Two eyewitnesses were found and details were handed over to the SAPS.”
According to the Roodepoort SAPS “things got ugly between the students and a fight broke out, which is when one of the them pulled out a knife and stabbed the other in the heart.
“Westgate Regional Shopping Centre cares for the health and safety of their patrons’ and staff’s wellbeing at all times, therefore we will be looking into installing surveillance cameras around the bus terminals, along with warning boards that no loitering will be tolerated,” Scott added.
“Westgate Regional Shopping Centre would like to send out our condolences to the young man’s family for their loss.”
Student (19) stabbed to death at bus stop
A young man, believed to be a student (19) was stabbed to death at Westgate’s bus stop after a gambling incident went wrong.
According to Colonel Chris Wilken of the Roodepoort SAPS, “A group of students was involved with a gambling game when an argument broke out.
“Things got ugly and there was a fight which is when one of the students pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the heart”.
ER24 declared the student dead on scene.
At the Record’s arrival police and investigators cordened off the scene as many commuters sat and watch in horror.
The friend of the deceased was questioned by police officers.
Wilken added that, “We know who the suspect is. This is a charge of murder”.
It’s said that the deceased is a student of the Roodepoort College.
Witnesses did not want to comment on the scene but did confirm that the killing was a gambling issue.
