Zim border jumper trying to make his way home shot dead by SA soldier

A Zimbabwean man who was attempting to go home for Christmas was shot dead on December 24 by a South African soldier patrolling the border near the Limpopo River after he had allegedly stabbed the soldier.

It is alleged the soldier, together with his colleagues, had demanded a R20 bribe to allow the now deceased to cross into Zimbabwe. South African police confirmed the shooting.

The deceased, Stephen Majoko, was in the company of five other men and is said to have paid the bribe before changing his mind and demanded his money back. This did not go down well with the soldiers who refused to refund him. A harsh exchange of words is said to have ensued and the soldiers allegedly assaulted Mr Majoko. On realising that he could not win the fight, Mr Majoko allegedly stabbed one of the soldiers and took to his heels.

He, however, did not go far as the stabbed soldier is said to have shot him three times in the back of the head. Mr Majoko's uncle, Mr Vonani Majoko, a partner at Majoko and Majoko Attorneys, Notaries and Conveyancers, said the family was still waiting for answers from South African police. He said the law firm has since written to the law enforcement agents. "Stephen was shot in the back of the head three times from point blank range and that raises a lot of questions and we need answers. I won't be hasty to say it was cold-blooded murder, but what happened does not sit well with me.

"The soldiers are said to be claiming that Stephen stabbed one of them in the back and the stabbed soldier is believed to be in hospital. But even if that proves to be true, I don't think it warranted the soldiers the right to shoot him three times." In an interview with Sunday News last week, Warrant Officer Edward Mhlabeni, the Commander-in-Charge of Mafifi in Limpopo Province, said the unnamed soldier who shot Mr Majoko faced a murder charge.

"Stephen Majoko was shot by the hospitalised soldier. The soldier claims that he was defending himself after he was stabbed by Stephen. Nevertheless, we expect the prosecutors to charge him with murder and corruption for soliciting bribes. The other soldiers are going to be prosecuted for corruption," he said.

Constable Ramaribana, the investigating officer, said investigations were still ongoing. "We are still in the process of investigating and we want to further question the soldier when he is discharged from hospital. We want him to shed more light. But as things stand, he is likely to be charged for killing Stephen.

"I cannot, however, say what the exact charge will be, that is the duty of the prosecutors."