Messages of condolences have been pouring in for late gqom artist Nhlakanipho “Sir Ronnius” Gumede.
The 24-year-old was allegedly assaulted by security guards at a bank in Tongaat, KZN on Saturday, 30 October.
His brother Jan Gumede told Daily Sun on Friday, their father sent Nhlakanipho to deposit money at Capitec for groceries for their mum in Zululand.
“He had just arrived home from a private gig. My father asked him to go and deposit R1 000 for our mother,” he said.
“When he came back, my father had found out only R500 was deposited.”
Nhlakanipho returned to the bank the next day but the woman who had assisted him was not on duty.
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“He was advised to return on Tuesday.
“He had no problem with this but asked the manager to at least check on the system what went wrong with the transaction. The manager refused and called security guards, who came and assaulted him,” said Jan. “Before they assaulted him, I received a call from the bank asking if I knew him. I told them he was my brother. I tried calling him a few minutes later but he was not responding. I called the bank back but they didn’t respond. I believe that was when he was being assaulted.”
Jan said someone told him what was going on and he rushed to the bank.
“I found him lying in a pool of blood and rushed him to the local clinic. He was later transferred to Addington Hospital but he didn’t make it,” he said.
Jan said his family was devastated and trying to make sense of the tragedy.
“He was not a violent person and he loved music. We are preparing to sue the bank. We feel the police could have arrested him if he was causing problems.”
Chandre Matlala of Capitec said the bank was shocked and deeply saddened by the incident at the Tongaat branch.
“The security guard in question has been arrested and we are working closely with the SAPS,” she said.
“We are also in direct contact with Mr Gumede’s family during this difficult time. We do not condone the use of violence in any form.”
Police spokeswoman, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, confirmed the incident.
“A security guard has been arrested and he is facing a case of murder. He will be appearing in Verulam Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 2 November.”
