A woman whose daughter died after being shot at a tavern says she wants to slap the corpse of the man she believes was responsible for her death.
Sisanda Mafalala was one of seven people shot at the Emaplangeni tavern in Lingelethu, Khayelitsha, in October 2013.
Sisanda, 22, suffered for nearly two years before succumbing to her injuries sustained in the shooting on Women’s Day last year.
In an ironic twist, the suspected tavern shooter, Thembelani “Manenze” Rhaleni, 34, was himself shot and killed on Sunday evening in Lonwabo Street, Site C, Khayelitsha.
Police say the motive for the murder is not yet known but speculation is rife in the township that Manenze was killed in a revenge attack for the 2013 tavern murders.
One Khayelitsha resident says he heard about seven shots ring out shortly after 7.30pm on Sunday and then found the deceased lying on the road.
Sisanda’s mother, Nobuzwe Mafalala, 45, tells the Daily Voice she is glad Rhaleni is dead.
“I heard about his death on Monday and I’m only sorry I didn’t get to see his body because I would have liked to slap him even though he was dead,” she says.
“But I’m glad he is dead, now we can be free and justice is finally served – not only for my daughter but the other children who died that day.
“He died in the same painful way my daughter did, him getting off doesn’t mean he didn’t do it.”
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut, says the circumstances of the murder on Sunday evening is being investigated.
“No one has been arrested as yet,” he says.