KEY POINTS
- A Cape Town woman, Lillian Hlahla, gave birth beside her husband, Talent Gono, who was fatally stabbed while preparing to take her to the hospital.
- The attack, believed to be a robbery, occurred in Joe Slovo, and no suspects have been arrested. Police are investigating the murder.
- Lillian’s employer has launched a fundraising campaign to support her and her three children, as the community rallies to provide assistance during this tragic time.
In a heart-wrenching incident in Cape Town, a woman identified as Lillian Hlahla gave birth beside her husband, who had been fatally stabbed moments earlier.
Lillian, a resident of Joe Slovo, was preparing to go to the hospital with her husband, Talent Gono, when tragedy struck in the early hours of Thursday morning.
IOL reports that the couple had called an e-hailing service to take them to the hospital after Lillian went into labour. As Gono went downstairs to load their bags into the vehicle, he was attacked by a group of men.
“He went downstairs with her hospital bag. He never made it back inside to help his wife with the Uber,” said Lillian’s employer, Jeannie Ross.
The attackers beat Gono mercilessly before stabbing him in the head, stomach, and chest. Hearing the commotion, Lillian rushed outside to find her husband lying in a pool of blood, whispering for water. As she ran to fetch water from a nearby tap, she was overcome by the pain of labor. “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,” Ross recounted.
Gono, 34, was declared dead at the scene by medical personnel. The suspects fled, and no arrests have been made. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said the motive for the attack is believed to be robbery. Milnerton detectives are investigating the murder and have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stop anonymously.
Community rallies to support
Lillian, now a widow, faces the daunting task of raising three children alone. Ross, her employer, has launched a fundraising campaign to support the grieving family. “Lilian now faces an unimaginable road ahead, raising three children without the man who was her anchor. If you can offer any support – financial assistance, counselling services, baby supplies – I would be grateful,” Ross said.
The fundraising page, titled “Lilian’s Story,” can be accessed at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/lilians-story. The community has already begun to rally around Lillian, offering condolences and support during this devastating time.
The brutal attack has left the Joe Slovo community in shock and mourning. Gono’s murder highlights the ongoing issue of violent crime in South Africa, particularly in underserved areas. Residents have called for increased police presence and better security measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
As Lillian begins her journey as a single mother, the community’s support will be crucial in helping her navigate the challenges ahead. The memory of Talent Gono, a loving husband and father, will remain alive in the hearts of those who knew him.
