The growing trend of gang-related violent attacks by schoolboys in poor communities in the country has claimed another victim, this time in Limpopo.
Kamogelo Makofane,16, of Praktiseer in Burgersfort, died on the streets of Ga-Manoke village as he and his mates were running away from a fight.
On Friday, the grade 9 pupil and five friends wrote their last exams at Kweledi Secondary School and then travelled to St Thomas College in Burgersfort. The town is about 17km away from their homes in Praktiseer.
Their alleged target was a group of boys from Ga-Manoke village who attend school at St Thomas, an independent school.
According to witnesses, a gang fight erupted and the Ga-Manoke group overpowered Makofane’s Praktiseer group. And when the fight intensified, the Praktiseer boys scattered, running towards Ga-Manoke, a village near town.
Makofane, who was badly injured, was seen staggering in the streets of the village until he collapsed near a home. He later died waiting for an ambulance.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that police have opened an inquest docket following Makofane’s death.
“At about 15h00 an adult female from Ga-Manoke village saw an unknown young male passing in the street near her house, walking slowly and staggering. He appeared to be lacking energy and suddenly fell on the ground. She then called neighbours and they went to him to check what was wrong [with the youth].”
Son never returned home
When Sunday World visited the deceased’s home, his mother Temane Makofane said on Saturday she left for work worried as his son never returned home.
Her daughter Tshepiso said they were surprised when his friends came home in the morning looking for Kamogelo.
“I contacted my mother [who was at work] to notify her. She advised me to tell his friends to go to Praktiseer police and report a missing person,” Tshepiso said.
Later on, the mother went to the police station, where a police report described the condition of an unidentified lifeless body of a male. She noted that body found in a blue tracksuit, round neck T-shirt and Uzzi sneakers suited his son’s description.
Temane then went to Ga-Manoke to find out what happened to her son.
“I was told he came running for his life and collapsed. He was struggling to breath, and they gave him water and poured some over him. They contacted an ambulance, but it arrived after five hours with police. He was certified dead [at the scene] and taken away by forensic pathology official,” she said.
The cause of his death is still to be established.
Police have urged anyone with information to contact Col Zwane on 082 449 0273 or the nearest police station or 086 00 10111.
By Thomo Nkgadima
