Update

GEORGE NEWS - The five suspects who stand accused of killing Avuye Thyuthuza (15) have all pleaded not guilty in the George Regional Court on Monday 25 February.

Mveliso Nomsotha, Thabang Thebeneng, Sibusiso Mini, Luphumlo Bhonyo and Lisakhanya Mhambi (all of them older than 18 years), who allegedly belong to a group called Milanos, stabbed and killed Avuye not far from his home in Thembalethu on Easter Sunday, 1 April 2018. At the time of his death, Avuye was a Grade 9 learner at PW Botha College.

According to one of his friends who was with him on the night and witnessed the incident, Avuye's murder was driven by jealousy of his fashionable clothes.

Goodman Mvubu (20) was one of the first witnesses to testify on Monday and told the court that Avuye and himself belonged to a group of boys who called themselves Havoc, who loved wearing expensive clothes, and that they never caused trouble to anyone. He said on that unfortunate night while he was at a shop in Zone 9, Avuye came to him crying, saying he had been assaulted by the Milanos. 

"I managed to calm him down. We then decided to go to a bash which was held at O44. On our way there as a group, Avuye was walking in front of us, ahead of the group. The reason for this, he was celebrating because out of 18 of us he was the only one who was wearing the most expensive clothes," he testified.

Mvubu also told the court how Avuye was allegedly killed by the Milanos. He said as Avuye was walking about five metres ahead of them, they were approached by the Milanos, all of whom took out knives and started stabbing Avuye. "He then fell and all of them surrounded him and stabbed him many times," said the witness.

Avuye Thyuthuza was murdered because the boys were jealous of his clothes. 

He testified that he tried to save Avuye from the Milanos by using a plank to disperse them and they [Avuye's friends] eventually pulled him out. "They eventually ran away and we picked him up and an ambulance was called." Avuye succumbed to his wounds at the George Hospital just hours after he was admitted.

The courtroom was filled to capacity by supporters of both the Thyuthuza family and the suspects. The accused were all wearing jeans and white T-shirts in court. 

The presiding judge, Pulemela Yono, repeatedly asked people in the gallery to keep quiet as they were disturbing the proceedings. The case is expected to continue throughout the week as more witnesses will be called to testify.