A 30-year-old man from the Eastern Cape was allegedly stabbed to death in Port Shepstone over the weekend in a dispute linked to a suspected love triangle. Two suspects have been arrested and are expected to appear in court tomorrow.
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The community of Mkholombe, near Port Shepstone, is in a state of shock following an incident on Saturday in which a man was allegedly fatally stabbed during a dispute linked to a suspected love triangle.
The deceased, believed to be 30 years old, was reportedly from Mount Fletcher in the Eastern Cape.
According to the chairman of the Mkholombe Community Policing Forum (CPF), Bhakabhaka Somhlaba, the incident occurred outside the deceased's rented room.
"The suspect allegedly received information that his girlfriend was having an affair with the deceased and then went to the rented property. It is alleged that he knocked on the door and, when the deceased opened it, questioned him about the girlfriend," said Somhlaba.
A struggle reportedly broke out between the deceased and the suspect, while the woman at the centre of the dispute was inside the rented property.
"It is alleged that the deceased was kicked by someone and fell into an open area, where the suspect suddenly attacked him with a knife, stabbing him repeatedly," said Somhlaba.
He said that after receiving reports of the stabbing, CPF members instructed those at the scene to find a vehicle to rush the victim to hospital.
"He died on arrival," said Somhlaba.
He added that while searching for the suspect, they discovered he was originally from Gamalakhe, near Port Shepstone.
According to Somhlaba, the suspect was later found in the company of another woman and allegedly attempted to flee with her.
"We suspect that this woman is also romantically involved with him and had no idea of the events that had just unfolded. When we informed her that we were taking him away because he had allegedly killed someone, she was visibly shocked," he said.
Somhlaba said the woman told them she was from Gamalakhe, not far from the suspect's home.
"She stated that he had called her and asked her to come and visit him. However, she was confused when, upon her arrival, he told her they could no longer go to his house and instead had to go elsewhere. We intercepted them while they were on their way to that unknown location," said Somhlaba.
He said the incident has deeply shocked the community, particularly because residents believed violent crime in the area had been brought under control.
"The area was previously plagued by brutal killings. Last year, the CPF was established and has helped restore stability to the community. People are now shocked that another horrific incident has occurred," he said.
Somhlaba noted that one of the challenges facing the community is the high number of informal settlements, which attract people from different areas who rent accommodation closer to their workplaces.
He said the suspect was not well known in the area and had not lived there for a long period.
He added that the woman at the centre of the alleged love triangle appeared traumatised after the incident and was initially unable to speak. Police later took her in for questioning before releasing her.
Efforts are also being made to locate the deceased's family, who are believed to be in the Eastern Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza confirmed that Port Shepstone police arrested two suspects, aged 36 and 58, in connection with a murder that occurred on Saturday in Mkholombe.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Port Shepstone Magistrate's Court tomorrow.
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