Secondary school teacher Mpharwane Makumane was on her way to morning accounting classes when her life was cut short abruptly.
Makumane, 25, a teacher at Azariel Senior Secondary School in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, was allegedly stabbed to death on Friday by the father of her five-year-old child.
The incident happened just outside the school where she had been teaching economic management science (EMS) and accounting subjects for four years.
The suspect, Boitumelo Khitleli, 27, briefly appeared before the Maluti magistrate’s court and his case was postponed to Monday for a bail hearing.
Police spokesperson Capt Khaya Tonjeni said Khitleli was facing charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of a stolen vehicle and reckless and negligent driving.
“Khitleli attacked the victim while she was on her way to school. He stabbed her several times before stabbing her colleague. He then drove off in the deceased’s car but was caught when he hit another car at a stop-and-go between Maluti and Matatiele,” Tonjeni said.
Makumane’s sister Diako Bevu, 34, said the past few days had been difficult for the family, especially when the teacher’s son started asking questions about her.
“We were all shattered when we heard the news about my sister’s death. She was very passionate about her work as a teacher. She has never shared with us anything about having problems with Boitumelo. However, we heard from friends that she had a protection order against him,” Bevu said.
She said the day before Makumane was killed, Khitleli had allegedly harassed her in front of other teachers at a braai.
“She then asked a friend to sleep at her place as she was scared to sleep alone, fearing that the boyfriend might come and attack her. Sadly, her worst fears came into reality the following day when he stabbed her to death. Her son has been asking about his mother. How do you tell a five-year-old that his father killed his mother and he faces jail time. We are broken as the family. She was such a humble and quiet person,” Bevu said.
Azariel Senior Secondary School principal Potlaki Matabane said the school was still in shock.
“On Friday I saw the boyfriend driving her car and he stopped me, saying someone had stabbed Makumane and he was rushing to get help. It was only when I got to the school when I was told that the boyfriend was behind the stabbing. He had also stabbed a security guard, who had to be rushed to hospital with serious injuries and was only discharged on Tuesday,” Matabane said.
Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade said: “The department is committed in giving both the learners and teachers the much needed psychosocial support and counselling. This is an act that we as men must rebuke and condemn with strongest words possible.”
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