North West police spokesperson, Amanda Funani, tells OFM News the male suspect is accused of stabbing 20-year old Vincent Letlojane multiple times in the chest at a tavern located in the Potchefstroom city centre on Monday. Funani says the incident occurred in front of the deceased’s girlfriend and a third person accompanying the couple to the tavern.

“An argument ensued between the victim and the suspect. The latter allegedly took a knife and stabbed the victim in his chest. The suspect continued to stab the victim after he fell on the ground while trying to flee from the scene”. Shortly thereafter irate community members in the area accosted and attacked the fleeing suspect, but before the situation spun out of control, an off-duty police officer who was merely passing by the scene intervened and rescued the 26-year-old man.

He is set to appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court once he has recovered from his injuries and is discharged.

South Africa’s 2019/20 crime statistics revealed that whilst the overall number of reported crimes dropped between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020, violent crime continues to rise, with the murder rate rising by 1,4% in the same period. This translates to 21 325 murders during this period. The country’s crime statistics were presented by Police Minister, Bheki Cele, and National Police Commissioner, Khehla Sitole, in July. 

The statistics did not include the period during which the country was under lockdown amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

OFM News