Update
MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Two people, one a schoolboy (18), appeared in court this week following the fatal stabbing of two young men in separate incidents in Dube Street in Asla Park, Mossel Bay, on Sunday, 17 November.
University of Johannesburg student, Sisipho Kanuka (20), had been visiting family in KwaNonaqaba for about a week. At 01:15 on Sunday, he was assaulted and stabbed multiple times while walking down Dube Street with a friend. An 18-year-old school learner was arrested hours after the stabbing of Kanuka.
He appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court on Monday, 18 November. The matter was postponed to, Friday 22 November, for a bail application.
Jason-Kirk Damon (23), known as someone who would do anything to help others in the community, had been on his way to buy his mother, well-known community leader Claudine Damon-Patel, a snack for when she got home from church, when he was stabbed multiple times just after 08:00.
A 23-year-old man was arrested in connection with Damon's murder and appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court on Thursday 21 November. The matter was postponed to Thursday, 5 December, for a bail application.
Incidents could not be linked
KwaNonqaba Police Station spokesperson Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp said although the two murders took place on the same day, in the same street, the two incidents could not be linked at this stage of the investigation.
Kapp said that Kanuka was with a friend in Dube Street when a group of 12 people came into view.
The group allegedly chased after the two young men, before catching up with Kanuka and allegedly assaulting and stabbing him multiple times. Kapp said he was declared dead at the scene by emergency medical services.
Contact
Mossel Bay Advertiser had not been able to make contact with Kanuka's family by the time of going to print.
Kapp said that in Damon's case, he was allegedly attacked from behind. He was rushed to Mossel Bay Provincial Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
Jason-Kirk Damon. Photo: Supplied
Damon's mother, Claudine, said she had woken him up just before leaving for church that morning.
"He said he was going to walk to the shops and I asked him to buy me a snack for when I got home later and he said he would," said Claudine.
She said that according to a family member, who was present at the time of the attack, Damon was standing at the shops, talking to the family member and some friends at about 08:00, when a car pulled up and a man jumped out and started running towards him.
'Why are you stabbing me?'
"He got to the corner of the road, where there is a dirt road down to an informal settlement and that is where he was first stabbed," said Claudine.
She said the relative and other witnesses said Damon continued to run from his attacker after being stabbed, while shouting: "Why are you stabbing me?"
Claudine said he collapsed a few hundred metres from where he was first stabbed and an ambulance was called. The relative then rushed to call Claudine and told her to go to the hospital immediately.
Jason-Kirk Damon's mother, Claudine Damon-Patel, points out to his grandmother, Vanessa Mcock, the spot where Jason-Kirk ran to, from his attacker. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse
Claudine said Damon was stabilised and the family was advised to come back at about 15:00, but at 13:40, the hospital called. Damon had died.
"Jason would help anyone who needed help. He was kind and gentle. He wanted everyone to be happy. He had the biggest, most beautiful smile," said Claudine.
She said Jason had been working at Point Hotel, but next year was to move to Cape Town, where he would have lived with his father, Ricardo Leaner, and have furthered his education.
Video call
Leaner said although he lived in Cape Town, he made sure to video call his son every third day.
"We would talk, laugh, sing together. He was so goodhearted and people knew if they were in any trouble, they could come and talk to him. He would give his last R20 to someone in need."
A service will be held for Jason at 479 Alhof Drive at 09:00, and at the New Apostolic Church D'Almeida Congregation at 10:00 today, 23 November.
If anyone has any information on the murders of Kanuka and Damon, contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Geoffrey Moos (044 606 5608/7).
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