RESIDENTS of Jabulani, Soweto, were still in shock yesterday after a 36-year-old man fatally stabbed his 14-year-old lover on Sunday.
Nonhlanhla Nhlapo of Jabulani, a Grade 9 pupil at the local Letare Secondary School, was stabbed at the Jabulani hostel about 2am.
Ben Pele, who shared a room with the suspect, said: "Everything seemed well prior to the stabbing and none of us in the room saw it coming."
He said Nonhlanhla, as she always did, was dancing and singing.
"Me and Nonhlanhla's boyfriend shared the unit with three other people and at the time of the attack everybody was minding their own business when suddenly we heard Nonhlanhla scream.
"When everybody went to check what was happening we saw blood streaming out of her neck and my roommate's hands were covered with blood," Pele said.
He said when they asked the suspect what had happened, he said he "only slapped her in the face".
Another hostel resident, Regional Kunene, said the badly injured Nonhlanhla tried to run home, about 4km from the scene, but collapsed on the way.
"We then put her in the back of an open bakkie and rushed to Jabulani police station, hoping the police would help but they did not," said Kunene.
She said they then drove to Nonhlanhla's home.
Her granny, Nomalanga Nhlapo, said: "I was surprised when a group of people knocked on my door at that time of the morning. I was shocked when I heard the news."
Paramedics declared Nonhlanhla dead when they arrived at her home, two hours later.
Her grandmother said her family was not aware Nonhlanhla was dating an "old man".
"I thought it was the boyfriend we all knew in the family because he was abusive towards her," said the grief-stricken Nhlapo.
"But it turned out that it was somebody the family did not even know she was dating.
"She was a party animal and never stayed at home. Sometimes we'd report her missing to the police fearing that something bad might have happened to her only for her to pitch up a day or so later."
Jabulani police spokesperson Warrant Officer Kay Makhubele said the suspect has been arrested and would appear in the Protea magistrate's court today.
"He is at the moment facing a murder charge. We may press more charges, including statutory rape if it can be proved that he slept with the girl," he said.
Lover kills girl (14)
RESIDENTS of Jabulani, Soweto, were still in shock yesterday after a 36-year-old man fatally stabbed his 14-year-old lover on Sunday.
Nonhlanhla Nhlapo of Jabulani, a Grade 9 pupil at the local Letare Secondary School, was stabbed at the Jabulani hostel about 2am.
Ben Pele, who shared a room with the suspect, said: "Everything seemed well prior to the stabbing and none of us in the room saw it coming."
He said Nonhlanhla, as she always did, was dancing and singing.
"Me and Nonhlanhla's boyfriend shared the unit with three other people and at the time of the attack everybody was minding their own business when suddenly we heard Nonhlanhla scream.
"When everybody went to check what was happening we saw blood streaming out of her neck and my roommate's hands were covered with blood," Pele said.
He said when they asked the suspect what had happened, he said he "only slapped her in the face".
Another hostel resident, Regional Kunene, said the badly injured Nonhlanhla tried to run home, about 4km from the scene, but collapsed on the way.
"We then put her in the back of an open bakkie and rushed to Jabulani police station, hoping the police would help but they did not," said Kunene.
She said they then drove to Nonhlanhla's home.
Her granny, Nomalanga Nhlapo, said: "I was surprised when a group of people knocked on my door at that time of the morning. I was shocked when I heard the news."
Paramedics declared Nonhlanhla dead when they arrived at her home, two hours later.
Her grandmother said her family was not aware Nonhlanhla was dating an "old man".
"I thought it was the boyfriend we all knew in the family because he was abusive towards her," said the grief-stricken Nhlapo.
"But it turned out that it was somebody the family did not even know she was dating.
"She was a party animal and never stayed at home. Sometimes we'd report her missing to the police fearing that something bad might have happened to her only for her to pitch up a day or so later."
Jabulani police spokesperson Warrant Officer Kay Makhubele said the suspect has been arrested and would appear in the Protea magistrate's court today.
"He is at the moment facing a murder charge. We may press more charges, including statutory rape if it can be proved that he slept with the girl," he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos