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Trust “Kalawa” Mapelakolu kept himself busy working as a DJ when he was not attending school.

Scholar killed in cold blood

 

A 19-year-old pupil was shot dead and left lying on the railway tracks along Kort Street in Louis Trichardt last Thursday night.

The resident of Tshikota and a Grade 10 pupil at Masedi Combined School, Trust Mapelakolu, was last seen in the vicinity of the Transnet train station, carrying his laptop at around 21:00. According to the information made available to Limpopo Mirror, he was on his way to a local tavern to do some disc mixes.

The deceased, who was well known as “Kalawa” in Tshikota and beyond, was a DJ, a performance poet and an aspiring writer.

The family's representative, Ms Shonisani Madula, said that the family members were still reeling from shock and added that they were traumatised by his untimely death.

“Trust was last seen during Thursday (last week), and then we only got the sad news about his senseless murder that night,” she said. “He was a very good boy who loved all people, and that is the reason why he liked DJ-ing to earn pocket money, instead of being a troublemaker in town.”

She indicated that the family was very hurt by Trust’s death. She added that he was a dedicated pupil who had aimed to beautify his life. “After his parents’ death some years ago, he expressed his sadness and hurting, and vowed to go to school to better his life,” she said. “Our child was a responsible young man and we wonder what got into the mind of whoever shot him dead.”

The principal of Masedi Combined School, Mr Azwitamisi Makhwathana, said that the school was affected by Trust’s tragic death. “He was a highly talented and bright learner.”

The spokesperson for the Makhado police, Const Irene Radzilane, confirmed the incident and said that the police had opened a murder case. “We were alerted to the shooting, which happened at night on 24 September,” she said. “Our police members got there and found a male victim lying dead. We are investigating this case.”

The police said that there were no belongings on him when he was found.

The family believes that whoever shot Trust might have taken his laptop. “We hope that his laptop might also help the police in their investigations,” said Madula. “This is not a case which should only be a concern to the family, but a matter which must concern everyone who stays in and around town. We can’t allow a situation where our children cannot walk freely in the streets because there are people who will murder them. However, we still say that the police will help crack this case.”

Mapelakolu will be laid to rest on Sunday at Tshikota cemetery at around 06:00.

 

Date:05 October 2015

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

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