He knows nothing will bring his child back. So right now, all he wants is justice for his 20-year-old son Thando Khumalo.
Thando was shot on the morning of 28 August at 12th Avenue Alexandra township during a road rage incident. He still cannot believe that his only child was killed in cold blood.
Businessman and entertainer Sipho “Cga Bopha” Masebe is heartbroken and wants justice.
“I got a call from family while I was on holiday in Malawi and told that Thando had been shot,” he tells Drum.
“I could not believe it. I think I lost my mind that day. Even now I am struggling to believe that he is not coming back,” Sipho says.
A few days before the incident Thando and his friends had been planning to go out partying.
“Thando and his friends usually have a driver they hire when they want to go out partying. We allow him because we know he is responsible. There were five of them in the car and they had just come from the club and were on their way home,” he says.
Sipho says the incident happened at around 6am.
“On their way home, three guys in a Suzuki almost bumped into them,” he says.
“The driver got out to see what the problem may have been. But the three guys became defensive and started slapping the driver around.”
While trying to stop the fight, Sipho says the four boys were also beaten.
“They also got a beating. During everything, they noticed that one of the guys who goes by the name of Peter was carrying a gun, so they ran. Peter (allegedly) used the gun to hit the driver while the other boys ran off.”
Sipho says they were then chased.
“They caught up with Thando, shot him in the head, and beat him and he died on the spot. After they shot him, they drove off and left him to die.”
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On the first flight to Johannesburg, Sipho could not hold back his tears on the two-hour flight. “I had to identify his body. He had been beaten senseless,” he says. A case was opened at the Alexandra police station and all the boys identified the shooter.
“All the four boys are key witnesses, and they recognised the man who shot Thando, [he is] a notorious criminal from Alex who had just recently been released from jail.”
Sipho says the alleged shooter had fled Alexandra and the community spent days looking for his whereabouts.
“Them identifying the man helped with his arrest,” Sipho says. It took about a week for him to be found.
“He was under pressure because he was trending on social media. One of the police officers traced him and he handed himself over to the police.”
The alleged shooter attended court twice where he was denied bail.
“He is currently at Johannesburg Correctional Services awaiting trial for 7 November. He has been denied bail, as he is dangerous and a possible flight risk.”
Sipho says he thought seeing the alleged shooter arrested would put him at ease, but he will rest the day he gets sentenced.
“I thought him being arrested will help to ease the pain, but it hurts. I want justice and peace of mind. These criminals are used to killing people and bribing officers but not this time,” he says.
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On 1 September, Thando was laid to rest at Waterval Cemetery in Midrand.
“Having to watch my son's casket drop to the ground was as though I am in a horror movie,” he says.
Sipho remembers his son as a kind, soft-spoken, and business-minded young man.
“He was very quiet but very business-minded at his age. He had a sneaker-cleaning company and was selling dog food for the community of Alex. My son was very humble. I have never seen or heard of him getting into a fight with anyone. He liked having fun and we allowed him to enjoy himself, “he says.
The investigating officer Detective Sydney Mhlongo says the suspect has been arrested and will appear in court on 7 November.
“We have someone in custody and the investigations are still pending," he says.
