[Image: BackaBuddy]
Cape Town’s rampant crime took a heartbreaking turn last week Thursday when a woman went into labour only for the happy moment to be turned into a murder scene.
Lillian Hlahla Gono was waiting for an Uber to take her to the hospital when her husband was brutally stabbed to death right in front of her in the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Cape Town.
Talent Gono had called the e-hailing service as soon as Lillian’s water broke at 4 AM, but before they could even get into the car, Talent was stabbed multiple times by a group of men.
The Citizen reports that the tragic story was shared on Facebook by Toni Tresadern., who had met Talent five years ago when he was selling pumpkins.
Tresadern said they beat him, before stabbing him in the head, stomach and chest. They then fled with his phone and the hospital bag. IOL reports:
“A group of men attacked him in the darkness, beating him mercilessly before stabbing him in the head, stomach, and chest. Lillian, hearing the commotion, ran out to find him collapsed on the ground, lying in a pool of blood, whispering for water. Desperate to help, she rushed to a nearby tap,” Jeannie Ross, Lillian’s employer said.
“But as she returned, she was overtaken by searing pain – her labour had begun. And there, on the ground beside her dying husband, Lilian gave birth to their child.
“Their baby’s first cry filled the night just as he took his final breath.”
If this doesn’t completely shatter your heart, I am not sure what will.
The couple, originally from Zimbabwe, had dreams of building a better future for their family. Their newborn baby, named after her father, was their third child. With hearts full of hope, they had planned to return home in April, their sights set on opening a hardware store and welding business—proof that their hard work and sacrifices had not been in vain.
But Cape Town crime had other plans.
In the wake of tragedy, a BackaBuddy campaign was launched to help Lillian return home and lay her husband to rest. The campaign was started by Jeannie Ross, who first crossed paths with Lillian about five years ago when she hired her as a domestic worker. Over the years, their relationship evolved beyond employer and employee—they became friends, bound by mutual respect and shared moments of laughter and life’s hardships.
“Lilian now faces an unimaginable road ahead, raising three children without the man who was her anchor,” Ross said in her BackaBuddy post.
The campaign’s goal stands at R150,000, a sum that could help ease the weight of this heartbreaking journey. At the time of publishing, donations had reached R131,514—just a heartbeat away from the target.
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When approached for comment on Friday morning, the Western Cape police stated they were unaware of the incident, according to The Citizen.
However, IOL reports that police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, said Milnerton detectives responded to a complaint at a clinic in Du Noon on Thursday, February 20.
“Upon arrival at the facility at about 6.05am, they found the body of a 34-year-old man who sustained stab wounds.”
“The victim was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel. The unknown suspects fled the scene and they are yet to be arrested.”
The motive for this attack is believed to be robbery. Milnerton police are investigating a murder.
[Source: Citizen]
