Tears of disbelief flowed in Heideveld over the weekend when a 17-year-old boy was viciously stabbed to death while protecting a female friend.
The hartseer mother of Usher Langeveldt has been left traumatised after watching her son bleed to death in her arms.
Mom Cheslyn, 39, says the Grade 9 learner from Heideveld High School was with his friends during the early hours when the family was woken up by frantic neighbours who said he had been stabbed.
“When I got there, he was on the floor and was stabbed five times in the neck, chest and lungs,” she explains.
“He was bleeding and I held him as he died in my arms.
“His tongue turned blue and he was rushed to hospital but died before we got there.”
Cheslyn says when the family questioned those present, they were told that Usher had intervened after a group of skollies attacked a 19-year-old girl.
“They were beating a girl and hit her over the head with a gun. She is friends with him and they told us he stood up for her and then he was attacked. We couldn’t believe they killed him just like that,” says the mom.
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, confirms the incident and says police were called to Heideveld Emergency Centre.
“Upon arrival at the local day hospital, they found the body of a 17-year-old man who sustained stab wounds to his body. The victim was declared deceased by the medical personnel,” he says.
“According to reports, the incident occurred near to the corners of Suther Peak and Table Mountain Street in Heideveld. Manenberg Police are investigating a case of murder and the motive for the attack is unknown.”
Swartbooi says a 21-year-old man was arrested for Usher’s murder and once charged, he will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court.
Meanwhile, Usher’s family is preparing for his funeral.
“We are still in shock and the community is kwaad because of the person he was,” says Cheslyn.
“Everybody in Heideveld has come to us and even people from Bonteheuwel came over to sympathise with us.
“If he walked around with a knife or a gun then we could understand but he was not a skollie to die like this. We are very heartbroken.”