It was a tragic incident that left the residents of Tshabalala in Bulawayo shocked and troubled.
Peace Israel Mlauzi, a 22-year-old man, was found hanging from a mango tree on Sunday, just hours after getting into a physical altercation with a traditional healer.
Mlauzi had discovered the 45-year-old sangoma sleeping on the couch at his mother’s house on Saturday evening and, in a fit of anger, confronted him about his presence.
The argument turned physical, with Mlauzi striking the sangoma on the forehead with a bronze cup.
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“On the 27th of July 2024, at around 9 pm, the deceased returned home drunk and found a 45-year-old male traditional healer from Tshabalala, Bulawayo, who works with his mother, sleeping on the couch. An altercation ensued when the deceased questioned why the healer was at their house instead of his own residence. A fist fight broke out, during which the deceased struck the healer on the forehead with a bronze cup,” said Inspector Abednico Ncube.
The fight was eventually broken up by Mlauzi’s grandmother, and a police report for assault was filed.
However, tragically, the following day, Mlauzi was found d3ad, and an investigation revealed that he had taken his own life. Inspector Abednico Ncube, the Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, revealed that Mlauzi had bruises on his hands and his tongue was partially protruding from his mouth.
He also emphasized that violence is never a solution to conflicts, especially when people act under the influence of alcohol, and urged members of the public to seek counselling when facing challenges rather than resorting to taking their own lives.
Moreover, Inspector Ncube added another layer of complexity to the situation, revealing that Mlauzi was reporting to the ZRP Tshabalala regarding a pending murd3r case. The tragic incident left the community searching for answers and grieving the loss of a young life.
