Kimberley - The mother of the man who was stabbed to death at a Kimberley nightclub last year, says that her life has become “empty” and she has “nothing to live for” after losing her son.
Mkhuseli Mamane was found guilty of murder in the Northern Cape High Court on Friday, after he stabbed Bhekithemba Mpalweni to death with a knife at Capello’s Pub in September last year.
Mpalweni had apparently “insulted his manhood” by calling him a “kwedini”, which refers to an uncircumcised man in isiXhosa.
During Monday’s pre-sentencing proceedings, the State called Mpalweni’s mother to the witness box to testify.
She told the court that Mpalweni worked as a teacher at the Tswelopele Correctional Centre in Kimberley and supported both her and one of his two children financially.
She added that her son also helped his school-going siblings with their homework and was “like a father” to them.
She said that that she had become “unwell” after her son’s death and now suffered from dizzy spells and high blood pressure, and was not able to stand for long periods of time, which hampered her work as a domestic worker.
When asked how her son’s death affected her emotionally, she answered by saying that she was “never fine” after the incident.
“He (Mpalweni) was everything to me. I’m broken and my life is empty. I have nothing to live for anymore,” she said.
The case was postponed to October, at the request of the defence, in order for them to consult with Mamane’s psychiatrist and prepare evidence to present in mitigation of his sentence.