Apprentice farmer killed for R1 500
2012-07-31 14:45
Gabisile Ngcobo, The Witness
Pietermaritzburg - Horrified farm workers have found the body of a missing apprentice of the Future Farmers Project at Townland Forest, outside Greytown in KwaZulu-Natal.
It seemed that he had been brutally murdered for his clothes, cellphone and a month’s grocery money.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Joey Jeevan said Mduduzi Majola, 18, who went missing on July 20, had sustained an open wound to his head, multiple bruises to his body, and a piece of wire was found around his neck.
Mduduzi was reported missing after he left his workplace on Tweedsmuir Farm in Greytown in the afternoon, after being paid his wages in cash. He was supposed to catch a minibus taxi to Ixopo via Pietermaritzburg to visit his sister, but never reached his destination.
His cellphone, shoes and cash to the value of about R1 500 were missing when his body was found on Friday, said the police.
'Such a waste'
Mduduzi’s father, Malangela Majola, said: “They’ve hit me where it hurts the most.
“My son was a hard worker and showed signs for a brighter future.
“It hurts and even if they catch the killers it won’t bring my son back,” Majola said, adding that he needed strength from God.
Mduduzi grew up on Mark Hauff’s farm, where his father is an employee. Hauff helped Mduduzi through school.
“It’s such a waste; the poor family,” Hauff said.
Linda Tarr, of Tweedsmuir Farm, said Mduduzi was an outstanding young man.
“My dad [the farm owner] gave him huge responsibility when he went on holiday. He ran the show. He was loyal,” Tarr told The Witness.
Majola had huge potential in the farming industry.
He was one of Judy Stuart’s protégés, training as a future farmer.
He was also selected to go to California, in the US to start an internship in January, 2013.
“We try to make good news and things like this happen. What do you do?” asked Stuart.
“He was a good kid and had a good future. It’s sad that his life got cut short,” she added.
There have been no arrests as yet and the police are investigating a case of murder.
