Khayelitsha, Cape Town – A Khayelitsha family is grappling with unimaginable grief following the death of their 13-year-old daughter, Zukhanye “Zuzu” Nkabeni, who allegedly died after being beaten at a friend’s house. The circumstances surrounding her death are now under police investigation, leaving the family desperate for answers.
Zukhanye left her home last Friday to collect clothes she had lent to a friend, never to return alive. Her mother, Unathi, received a call later that night with the friend's mother telling her to "fetch your daughter".
Unathi recounted the harrowing experience: “When I arrived at the house, I called for Zukhanye, but there was no response. I went inside and found her lying on a couch, with a tray of tablets on a table next to her.”
Zuzu had to be helped out of the house because she couldn’t walk properly… When I collected my child, the friend’s mother [who came in from the backyard] said she took tablets for the pain of the beating.”
According to Unathi, the woman admitted to beating Zukhanye because they had found her in the house.
The family's ordeal began when Zukhanye went to her friend's house in Harare, Khayelitsha. According to Zukhanye’s relatives, with the help of a neighbour and family member who could speak some English, nobody was at home when the girl arrived.
They told News24 that she had let herself in because the door was unlocked. It is alleged that the friend’s mother and two other women found her there. They reportedly accused her of entering without permission and assaulted her, using planks and a broomstick.
As Unathi attempted to take her daughter home, Zukhanye's condition deteriorated rapidly. “While we attempted to walk, Zuzu wet herself and was dragging her feet. She kept saying she just wants to sleep, but I kept talking to her to make sure she stays with me.”
Unathi then called an e-hailing taxi to take them to the Harare police station.
“When we got to the police station, they told me to take Zuzu to the hospital first, then return to the station. So the Uber took us to Khayelitsha District Hospital.”
Despite the efforts of doctors, Zukhanye was pronounced dead shortly before midnight. Her mother is heartbroken, saying, “It pains me so much to imagine the pain she went through in those moments.”
Adding to the family's distress, Unathi said that shortly after leaving the hospital, she received a text message from Zukhanye’s friend, saying her mother and the two women had beaten her.
“I asked her why she didn’t stop them from hurting Zuzu or tell them that my baby did not break into the house? But she never responded to my texts,” Unathi said.
Zukhanye’s grandmother, Ncediswa Portia, was in tears as she spoke about her “very pretty grandchild”.
“This is so painful for us. We want closure to understand what would drive someone to attack a child so violently that she died of her injuries,” she said.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged assault are now the subject of a police investigation. Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened. However, he stated that reports of an assault were not initially mentioned to the authorities.
“A post mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” he added.
Unathi, however, maintains that she told officers about the assault when she gave them a statement after her daughter’s death. This discrepancy in reporting has further complicated the investigation and added to the family's frustration.
News24 went to the house where the alleged assault took place. No one was home.
The community is now left reeling from this tragedy. The family is desperate for answers and justice for Zukhanye. The police investigation is ongoing, and the post-mortem results are eagerly awaited to shed light on the exact cause of death. The family is hoping that the investigation will uncover the truth and bring those responsible for Zukhanye's death to justice. They are also appealing to anyone who may have information about the incident to come forward and assist the police with their investigation.
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