The Amazwi Villager

Written By Constance Rahlane

According to Islington community, he was a kind nineteen-year-old young man. Like the meaning of his name, Yingisani (“listen”) Mchavi always listened to his parents and elders. But Yingisani’s kindness led him to his death, after he saved a fourteen-year-old relative from a former friend who was grabbing her and threatening to hit her.

On the dreadful night of 16 August, Yingisani was at the local bottle store. He was celebrating initiation school graduation with his friends, when he saw Jacob Mathebula grab a girl behind the bottle store and threaten to hit her. According to Yingisani’s family, Yingisani took the girl home to safety. On his way home, Yingisani was approached by Jacob, who allegedly stabbed him four times and hit him with a strong object to the head and then ran away. Yingisani, bleeding, screamed and people called his sister, Thandy. He was rushed to Tintswalo Hospital, but he passed away the following day.

The family said that the doctors believed he died because the knife wounds to his heart caused internal bleeding. However, before he died, the brave Yingisani told the police that Jacob was the man who opened death’s door for him before he was ready to enter. The Thulamahashe Police reacted quickly, and Jacob was arrested on 17 August.

Yingisani was buried on 23 August. Still, the Machavi family, Islington community and Mhlangane School are still in shock. “I still can’t believe he is gone. He was full of laughter, and a man who was active at school and loved culture very much,” said Thandy. The family said they are not angry with Mathebula’s family because they didn’t send Jacob to do what he did. The Mathebulas apologized for what happened and contributed to the funeral expenses.

Yingisani’s mother, Traphina, has a strong heart and is willing to forgive Jacob. “I believe it was alcohol that led him to kill my boy. We are all going to die. Maybe it is how God wanted his life to end,” said Traphina. But Yingisani’s brother, Abednigo, is not willing to forgive yet. “I wish Jacob could go for a long jail sentence. It is very hard because Yingisani called me the same day asking me to buy something for him, and I promised to. The next thing, I receive a call informing me about his death,” said Abednigo. The matter is in the hands of the Thulamahashe Court, which granted Jacob bail on 26 August.

Yingisani is survived by his parents, Million and Traphina Mchavi, and seven siblings. The family is left with the memory of their son and the grave in their yard, which will remind them of him, everyday.