A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal, when a mother’s search for her missing son ended in tragedy. On Thursday, 1 May 2025, a 22-year-old man was found dead on the side of the road, leaving a community in shock and a mother devastated.
The young man had gone out to a local tavern but failed to return home, prompting concern from his mother. As the hours passed without any communication from him, she took it upon herself to search for him. Her worst fears were realized when she discovered his lifeless body lying in a pool of blood along the roadside.
According to reports, the young man had multiple stab wounds across his body, particularly on his head and face. A pocketknife—identified by authorities as likely belonging to the victim—was found next to him. The brutal nature of the attack indicated that it may have been the result of a violent altercation.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded swiftly to the scene after being alerted early in the morning. Spokesman Prem Balram confirmed that officers were dispatched to the scene around 5am. Upon arrival, they found the young man’s body with visible stab wounds and surrounded by blood. Balram shared that the victim’s mother had launched her own search after he failed to return home the previous afternoon.
“It is alleged that the victim had an argument with other patrons at the tavern. The altercation reportedly escalated, resulting in the victim being stabbed multiple times, possibly with the jagged edge of a broken beer bottle,” said Balram. However, he also emphasized that this account had not yet been officially verified.
The gruesome discovery has left the Ndwedwe community reeling, and many are calling for greater safety measures and accountability in local taverns where violence seems to be escalating.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that a murder investigation is currently underway. “Police in Ndwedwe are investigating a case of murder following the stabbing of a 22-year-old man by an unknown suspect in the Ezindlovini area on 1 May 2025,” he stated.
No arrests have been made as of yet, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Police are also working to determine whether the knife found at the scene was used in the attack or was simply in the victim’s possession.
The family, meanwhile, is left mourning a young life taken far too soon. Community leaders and residents have expressed their condolences and called for justice to be served swiftly.
This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the increasing incidents of violence in social spaces, particularly where alcohol is involved. As investigations continue, the family and community of Ndwedwe await answers—and hope for justice for the young man whose life was so violently cut short.
