Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

A Mpumalanga referee is in a critical condition in hospital after members of a local football club allegedly stabbed him several times at the weekend.

Douglas Godi of Calcutta near Hazyview intervened when he saw members of the Parma Football Club in an argument with his younger brother, Shane.

The incident happened during a Top 4 soccer tournament at the Matsane sports ground in the Mashonameni settlement.

Godi allegedly produced a firearm and fired several bullets.

A 13-year-old boy was allegedly shot twice during the fracas, though it is unclear how he was injured.

Calcutta police spokesman Constable Sydney Tshuketana, however, could not confirm the incident saying it was not reported to the police.

But he promised to visit the injured men in hospital.

"We do not have any information regarding the alleged incident," said Tshuketana.

Sowetan was told Godi's relative apparently managed to wrestle the gun from him and then fled.

Angry members of the club allegedly grabbed Godi and stabbed him several times.

It is also not clear what Godi's younger brother and the members of the club were arguing about.

Godi and the injured boy have both been admitted to Matikwane Hospital, which is in Mkhuhlu.

A hospital spokesman confirmed Godi was in a critical condition and was unable to speak.

Tshuketana said the police did not obtain a statement from Godi because he was unable to speak because of the extent of his injuries.

Several witnesses, however, told Sowetan that a number of police officers from Tshuketana's police station attended the incident and took statements from some of the witnesses.