A 35-year-old man murdered in Kraaifontein last week while selling fire stompies was skarreling hard for his family when his life was cruelly cut short.
Now the family of Fhillipis Benjamin is asking the public to step in—both with donations for funeral costs and with help to transport his body back home to the Karoo, where he belongs.
According to family members, Benjamin was originally from Prince Albert in the Karoo. He moved to the Mother City three years ago after making the decision to chase better work opportunities.
In recent days, details have emerged about what led to his death—hours that began with door-to-door selling and ended with a deadly stabbing in the street.
Community leader Amanda Hartzenberg said Benjamin and a friend had allegedly been attacked. Hartzenberg told residents that after the incident, Benjamin and his friend returned to her home and said they had been stabbed.
Benjamin reportedly collapsed before anyone could get him proper help. He was found with stab wounds to his chest and head. His friend, meanwhile, had been stabbed in the arm.
By the time the friend returned after trying to flag down police, Benjamin had died.
The family says Benjamin’s death is especially painful because he was not just working—he was trying to build something solid for the people who depended on him.
At the time of his death, Benjamin was working two jobs. Those hard-working efforts are now being interrupted by urgent costs, with the family appealing to the community for help with transporting his body to Prince Albert.
“We still don’t know what exactly happened…”
Benjamin’s cousin, Joweel Benjamin, who is one of only two family members living in Cape Town, described the confusion and grief the family is carrying.
Joweel said Fhillipis moved to Kraaifontein three years ago after receiving an opportunity to work for a roofing company.
Joweel said: “We still don’t know what exactly happened, but he no longer works for the roofing company. He has been doing odd jobs for a couple who run a doggy parlour in Kraaifontein.
“The couple is just as devastated. They loved him. They told me he had such a good work ethic and had a special relationship with their two children. They trusted him.”
Joweel’s words paint a picture of a man who didn’t just “take work” to survive—he was trusted, valued, and respected by people in the area where he lived and worked.
He explained that Benjamin only had him and an aunt in Cape Town, while the rest of the family lives in Prince Albert.
Joweel added: “As a family, our wish is to get him to Prince Albert where he can be laid to rest with his loved ones. His mother is also quite sick. We want to offer her the opportunity to say goodbye to her son.”
The family is now dealing with more than just the tragedy of losing someone. They are also trying to protect his mother’s chance to say goodbye—despite the fact that she is reportedly unwell.
Family left behind
Fhillipis Benjamin leaves behind an older sister and two younger brothers.
For those left behind, the appeal for assistance is about more than a funeral. It is about giving Benjamin a proper send-off in the place where his loved ones can finally gather—without being separated by distance and money.
Appeal for help with transport and burial costs
Joweel is now appealing to anyone who can assist with transportation of Benjamin’s body to Prince Albert and with burial costs.
Anyone able to assist can contact the family on 073 320 4056.
Police open murder case
Police have opened a murder case, and no arrests have been made at this stage.
The investigation continues as the community and Benjamin’s family wait for answers—why the attack happened, who was responsible, and whether more information will soon emerge.
For now, the family is left with shock and grief, and the urgent need for help—so that Fhillipis Benjamin can be laid to rest among his own people in Prince Albert.
## 5 catchy headline options
1. **Kraaifontein killer still on the run after family man stabbed while selling firewood door-to-door**
2. **He moved to Cape Town for work and worked two jobs — then was stabbed to death in Kraaifontein**
3. **Family in tears after Prince Albert man is killed in Kraaifontein while trying to earn an honest living**
4. **“We still don’t know what exactly happened” — family seeks answers after brutal Kraaifontein killing**
5. **He was skarreling for his family when he died — now loved ones beg for help to take him home**
## News article
A 35-year-old man from Prince Albert was brutally murdered in Kraaifontein last week while trying to make an honest living, and his family is now pleading for help to bring his body home for burial.
Fhillipis Benjamin, who had moved to Cape Town three years ago in search of better work opportunities, was allegedly stabbed to death in Tibesti Street on Sunday, 13 September 2026, while selling firewood door-to-door. The family says he was working hard to support himself and those he left behind in the Karoo.
According to relatives, Benjamin was from Prince Albert and had made the move to the Mother City hoping to build a better life. At the time of his death, he was doing two jobs to keep body and soul together.
His family says the killing has left them heartbroken, not only because of the violence of his death, but because they are now struggling with the cost of transporting his body back to Prince Albert, where he can be laid to rest among loved ones.
Community leader Amanda Hartzenberg said Benjamin and his friend had returned to her home after allegedly being attacked and told residents they had been stabbed.
Benjamin reportedly collapsed and was found with stab wounds to his chest and head, while his friend had been stabbed in the arm.
By the time the friend returned after trying to flag down police, Benjamin had died.
His cousin, Joweel Benjamin, one of only two family members living in Cape Town, said Fhillipis had first come to Kraaifontein three years ago after getting a job opportunity with a roofing company.
Joweel said the family is still trying to piece together exactly what happened.
“We still don’t know what exactly happened, but he no longer works for the roofing company. He has been doing odd jobs for a couple who run a doggy parlour in Kraaifontein.
“The couple is just as devastated. They loved him. They told me he had such a good work ethic and had a special relationship with their two children. They trusted him.”
Those words paint a picture of a man who, by all accounts, was quietly trying to get ahead. Family members say he had settled into life in the area and was known as someone who worked hard and kept going, even when times were tough.
Joweel said Fhillipis had only him and an aunt in Cape Town, while the rest of the family remains in Prince Albert.
The pain is made worse by the distance between the family and their son, brother and cousin. His loved ones want him brought back to the Karoo so that he can be buried in the place he called home.
Joweel added: “As a family, our wish is to get him to Prince Albert where he can be laid to rest with his loved ones. His mother is also quite sick. We want to offer her the opportunity to say goodbye to her son.”
Fhillipis leaves behind an older sister and two younger brothers.
Now the family is appealing to the public for help with the costs of transporting his body to Prince Albert and covering burial expenses. They say every bit of support will help them through a time that has brought pain, fear and financial strain all at once.
Joweel is asking anyone who can assist to come forward.
Anyone able to assist can contact the family on 073 320 4056.
Police have opened a murder case, and no arrests have been made.
The killing has left a family shattered and a community searching for answers, while the man they describe as hardworking and dependable is remembered for the life he was trying to build far from home.
