Durban — Even though it is almost a year since an oThongathi man died in hospital after allegedly being assaulted by guards at a Capitec branch, his family is still struggling with the loss, especially with the trial adjourned to August 29.
A guard charged with Nhlakanipho “Sir Ronnius” Gumede’s murder, Sbusiso Zungu, was expected to appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court again in August, the same month the up-and-coming gqom artist would have turned 30.
His brother Jan Gumede said the entire family still had not healed because Nhlakanipho had a bright future and was passionate about his music, and his life was taken just as his career was about to take off.
“His colleagues that he was recording with are now making it. They were together in a group. He was talented in music, including beat-making and CD covers,” Jan said.
“We miss him every day. I can see how it’s affecting our parents and my sister Thandazile. They are really not coping and now my brother Siyabonga is falling into the same depression.”
Jan said he was staying strong for all of them as he hoped justice would be served.
“I believe that’s the one thing I’m holding on to that is making me stay strong.”
Gumede said Nhlakanipho would have turned 30 on August 18 and the family’s wish was to honour his memory on this day.
“Maybe this will bring some happiness to mom, but financially we are unable to. Mom had really wanted to erect Nhlakanipho’s tombstone.”
According to Jan, Nhlakanipho had gone to the bank to deposit money for their mother in Zululand on a Friday. The following day they found out their mother had only received R500 instead of the R1 000 that Nhlakanipho had deposited.
Nhlakanipho went to the branch to query this and a manager at the bank phoned Jan and explained what had happened with the deposit.
Five minutes after this he got another call saying his brother was dying.
Jan said that the family had taken legal action against the bank.
He said funeral representatives from the bank had come to their home, assisting with arrangements to the tune of R40 000.
“That was the last time we saw or heard from them.”
Zungu last appeared in court on 6 May. The matter was adjourned for further investigations as there was still a medical report outstanding.
Zungu is out on bail.
Daily News