Teens held for boy's murder

2003-04-13 09:45

Sibonelo Msomi

Pietermaritzburg - Two teenage boys have been arrested for the murder of a 13-year-old Pietermaritzburg schoolboy.

Ayanda Nxele, 13, a grade eight pupil, was found dead in Bluebell Road near his school on Thursday afternoon. His hands were tied behind his back with a school tie and a girl's girdle around his neck.

The arrested boys, aged 13 and 16, were schoolmates of Ayanda's who were allegedly seen with him before his murder.

Northbury Park Secondary pupils and teachers were shocked when their principal announced the news at morning assembly on Friday.

Inspector Joey Jeevan said Ayanda was found dead on the side of the road. "It appeared that the deceased was strangled, but the police are awaiting the results of the post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death," she said.

The arrested boys appeared briefly in court on Friday and the case was provisionally withdrawn for further investigation. The boys have been released into the custody of their parents.

Ayanda's family was shocked to hear that the case has been withdrawn.

His stepmother, Sibongile Nxele, said, "We will pursue the matter until my stepson's murderers are behind bars."

She also said that the school will have to explain why it took them so long to report to her that Ayanda had not arrived for lessons. She said Ayanda's father was only told after school hours that he had not arrived, by which time he was already dead.

"When I took him to register at the school I told the teachers to inform me if the boy was absconding from school. They should have done that first thing in the morning," she said.

Ayanda's father Linda Nxele, 39, also expressed dissatisfaction that they found his body, identified as "unknown", at the state mortuary in Alexandra Road.

"How can they say he was unknown yet the police notified the school when he was found? Surely he is known to the school. It is not acceptable that they can say he was unknown," he said.

Principal Kiran Maharaj said the police told him at 14:30 on Thursday that they had found his body.

His mother said Ayanda told her that on Wednesday afternoon while he was waiting for transport home, a schoolmate elbowed him roughly. She said she told him to report the incident at school, and that she would visit the school the next day to discuss the matter.

She also said she heard that another child witnessed the attack and told his or her parents. The police could not confirm this, however.

Teacher Debbie Sukhoo described Ayanda as an extrovert who always kept a smile on his face.

"We will sadly miss him," she said.

Sandy Sunker, Ayanda's form teacher, said she finds it hard to see the empty seat in the second desk in her classroom. "You would see him every day cracking jokes to the class," she said.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.

- The Witness