Teenager who came home late stabs brother to death for scolding him

By Patient Sibanda

A BULAWAYO teenager allegedly stabbed his brother, who later died in hospital, for scolding him after he came home late.

Sandile Tshuma, 19, surrendered himself to the police following the death of Sambulelo, 28, on Sunday.

Sandile allegedly stabbed Sambulelo with a kitchen knife on Friday. Sources said the teenager arrived home towards midnight from Emakhandeni’s Mahadebe bar.

They said Sandile slapped his brother after he chided him and they quarrelled, attracting neighbours’ attention.

“Sandile, who was drunk, got angry and they started fighting,” said neighbour.

The neighbour said Sandile grabbed a kitchen knife and plunged it in the underside of his brother’s left side ribcage.

Another neighbour told The Chronicle the brothers locked themselves in the house as they fought.

“We tried to open the door but it was locked. Sandile opened the door when his brother was lying on the floor. I saw a kitchen knife with blood stains and Sambulelo was bleeding heavily,” said the neighbour.

He said they called an ambulance and Tshuma was ferried to Mpilo Central Hospital. The neighbours said Sandile reported the case to the police and he was arrested.

A family spokesperson, Nomsa Khumalo, said they are still to establish what the two were arguing about. She said family members from the rural areas and South Africa found Sandile already in police custody.

“I stay in South Africa and I received a call on Sunday morning from neighbours who told me that Sambulelo was admitted to Mpilo. On Monday I was told that he had died,” said Khumalo.

“We can’t say how Sambulelo sustained injuries because we haven’t seen his body as a family. We don’t know what the two argued about. We are still in shock over what happened.”

Bulawayo Metropolitan province police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said Tshuma died two days after he was admitted to the hospital.

“I confirm that we’re investigating a murder involving a man who was stabbed by his younger brother and sent to hospital. The man died two days after he was admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital,” said Insp Simango. She urged members of public to seek counselling when they have family problems.

“We appeal to members of the public to avoid fighting when they have consumed alcohol. They should also involve family members when they have issues, rather than resorting to killing each other,” said Insp Simango.

Ward 11 Councillor Pilate Moyo said: “This is terrible. I urge the community members to seek counselling from us and churches. They shouldn’t resort to killing each other.”

In August, a 17-year-old pupil allegedly killed his 46-year-old aunt with a kitchen knife after she confiscated his cellphone.

During the same month, a 17-year-old man from Lobengula West allegedly killed and burnt his 79-year-old grandmother over money that relatives sent from abroad. The Chronicle