A young man has died allegedly at the hands of his own friend who stabbed him in the heart as he tried to rob him of his scrap and money in
Philippi.
Everyday, Mzuvumile “Mdu” Magija, 27, collected metal in his trolley and made his way to a scrapyard along Strandfontein Road in Philippi.
Mdu was unemployed and skarreled to sustain himself and his girlfriend.
The couple lived in the Egoli informal settlement.
On Wednesday just after 10am, Mdu walked from home in the direction of the scrapyard and was confronted by his friend who also collects scrap.
According to his friend, Richard Bandah, Mdu was asked to hand over his scrap and money but he refused.
That was when he was attacked and stabbed in the heart with a knife.
DIRTY BUSINESS: Mzuvumile Magija allegedly stabbed ‘by a friend’ at a scrap yard in Philippi
Bandah says he rushed to the scene and heard from people at the scene what had allegedly taken place.
“Mdu took his trolley and went to the scrapyard. He was going to sell his stuff,” he explains.
“These guys wanted to rob him of his money and scrap.
“The people at the yard all know one another. He refused to give his money and scrap.
“He was stabbed in the heart. The people at the scene called the ambulance but it was too late.
“He was a man who went every day to the scrapyard, he was a nice guy who didn’t steal from anyone. He was so young and now he is gone.”
RUSHED TO THE SCENE: Friend Richard Bandah
It is unclear whether his attacker, who fled the scene, managed to take his money and scrap.
Mdu’s girlfriend could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
Another resident who asked not to be identified added: “He was not a criminal. He did not steal from people. The people at the scrapyard should know something.”
When the Daily Voice visited the scrapyard, workers claimed they did not know about the incident. Customers said they knew who had been killed.
Police spokesperson, Mihali Majikela, says a case of murder is under investigation.