South African family demands answers as their son mysteriously dies outside his girlfriend’s house in Zimbabwe on New Year’s Day

A pall of mystery hangs over the death of Thabang Mokonyane, a 23-year-old South African man from Mokopane, Limpopo, who was discovered deceased outside his girlfriend’s family home in Zimbabwe on New Year’s Day. His family are adamant that he was murdered and are rejecting the possibility of suicide.

 

According to the Sowetan, Thabang had travelled to Lutumba, near Beitbridge, on December 30th to reconcile with Khathutshelo Mbedzi, his former girlfriend and the mother of his three-year-old child, following their breakup in July.

 

However, the circumstances surrounding his death have ignited suspicion, with his family raising serious concerns about the official narrative.

 

Evan Mongwe, Mokonyane’s aunt, voiced the family’s scepticism, stating, “We don’t believe what we saw in that picture… his feet are touching the ground while they say he hanged himself. Parts of the rope he allegedly used are also loosely grounded near his feet.”

 

The family are struggling to come to terms with the tragedy and are desperate for answers. “If he had hanged himself, he would have turned and kicked [the air], so we don’t understand how the rope is on the feet. We want officials to investigate if he died by suicide or if he was murdered. This is the answer we would seek after his burial,” Mongwe explained.

 

Adding to their unease, Mongwe noted that Mokonyane’s trousers were dirty around the knees, “as if he had been kneeling before he died.” The family were also surprised to learn that Mbedzi was from Zimbabwe, as they had believed she was from Venda.

 

“We are suspicious, but we are told that he died by suicide; we are only accepting this version because we want to be assisted with repatriating his body,” Mongwe confessed, highlighting the family’s desperate situation.

 

The family also claims they were unaware of Mokonyane’s trip to Zimbabwe, believing he lacked a passport. They had been under the impression that he had left Mokopane to sell nuts in Polokwane. The news of his death, delivered via a phone call from Mbedzi, came as a devastating shock. They were sent pictures of the scene, which only deepened their doubts.

 

Mbedzi confirmed that she became aware of Mokonyane’s presence in Zimbabwe on December 31st, after receiving a call from her siblings. “I told my brother to call my father because Thabang and I were no longer together; we were always arguing. He didn’t tell me that he was coming to my parents’ house and I just got a call that he was there,” she said.

 

According to Mbedzi, her father and Mokonyane spoke for several hours, and her father offered him a room for the night, with the understanding that he would leave the following day.

 

“Someone came and told me that there is a person that had killed himself outside our yard. I went to the scene and that is when I saw Thabang had hung himself,” she recounted.

 

Mbedzi and Mokonyane’s relationship began in 2022. Following their separation last year, Mbedzi left their child with Mokonyane’s family in December before returning to Zimbabwe for the holidays.

 

The Mokonyane family is now grappling with the immense challenge of repatriating Thabang’s body from Zimbabwe. Mongwe lamented their financial constraints and the fact that no one in the family possesses a passport.

 

“Thabang’s mother was only able to apply for a passport on Monday through the help of a good Samaritan whom we met in town after he heard us crying. We don’t even know when she will get the passport,” Mongwe explained.

 

The ordeal has plunged the family into deep despair. “We don’t know what to do. As we speak, we have two elderly sick people, his grandparents. His mother is unemployed; hence, we are asking for any type of assistance. We would be happy to have the body repatriated,” she pleaded.

 

A Zimbabwe police official, who is in contact with both families, has confirmed that investigations are ongoing. However, Zimbabwe police spokesperson Paul Nyathi had not responded to the Sowetan’s inquiry at the time of publication.

 

The Forum for SA has urged all relevant law enforcement and consular services to intervene swiftly, providing assistance with the repatriation process and ensuring a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mokonyane’s death.

 

Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, stated that his department was unaware of the incident and is unable to provide financial assistance due to a non-financial consular policy.

 

The investigation into Thabang Mokonyane’s death remains a sensitive matter, with both families anxiously awaiting further developments.