By Destine Nde
The scourge of violent crime reaches into all the corners of South Africa – even relatively peaceful rural communities – and Willowmore is no exception.
In the early hours of Sunday 7 December, Ruduaan Kombela (Mella), 28, was stabbed in front of the Atlantis tavern in the Blinkdakkies location in Willowmore, and was later found dead in a pool of blood. Forensic evidence showed that he had died from a wound to the neck that had severed his carotid artery.
Mella was well-known, and had many friends. He was also a kind and gentle person, with a slight physique. Mella has left behind his parents, sister, and a five-year-old daughter.
Four men were arrested later that same morning in connection with the murder, and appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning. However, after being interrogated, they were released without being charged, and were back on the streets later the same day.
This enraged the community. The next day, a crowd gathered outside the Willowmore courthouse to protest against Mella’s violent death and to demand answers about why no one had been charged, chanting: ‘Genoeg is genoeg!’’ (enough is enough!).
There was no magistrate in the court building until about three in the afternoon, when one hastily arrived from Joubertina. In the meantime, the crowd became more and more restive. Before long, one of the protestors, Jason Myburgh, also known as Bakkiekop, got involved in a heated exchange with a bystander, known as Balla. Jason then bought two litres of petrol at a nearby garage, poured it over Balla, and set him on fire. Some of the petrol landed on Balla’s son, who was standing next to him, and he also caught alight.
People around them retreated, and other members of the crowd were immobilised by shock, so it took a while before anyone tried to help the screaming Balla and his son. All of this happened right next to the police station, which is adjacent to the courthouse.
The victims, who had suffered severe burns, were eventually taken to the Willowmore Hospital, and Jason was arrested. He surrendered to the police without a struggle.
There is a poignant story behind all of this. Jason’s uncle had been burnt to death by thugs in 2022. He was a peaceful and gentle person, and no one could understand why he had been subjected to such barbaric treatment. No one was arrested or prosecuted.
Jason was extremely upset and angered by this incident. Ever since, he has felt aggrieved about justice not being done. He became a champion of the weak and voiceless, and was willing to fight for them as well, even if this meant going to prison.
On Christmas eve in 2023, some young boys were mercilessly assaulted in the Barcelona tavern. When the perpetrators were released on bail, this also triggered a protest in which Jason played a leading role, resulting in a clash with police.
On that fateful Tuesday, Balla apparently taunted Jason about his actions after his uncle’s death, which pushed the latter over the edge.
Mella was laid to rest on 20 December. His funeral was a sad and painful event, attended by many community members. People wept when his parents spoke about their loss and pain, and felt great pity for his young daughter, who has been left fatherless because of some trivial argument in a tavern.
Jason is being held without bail, and is due to appear again on 3 March. Balla and his son are still in hospital, receiving treatment.
Following these events, the community feared that, if justice was not done, and all the perpetrators arrested, tried and convicted, this might lead to further violence, fuelled by a culture of revenge and retribution which is also prevalent in Willowmore. In terms of this culture, to avenge victims’ deaths is a matter of honour, and to fail to do so would be dishonourable and cowardly.
These fears seemed confirmed when, on 27 December, the body of Henley Human (33) was found in the bushes near the sewage plant on the Grootrivier Road. He had been dead for about four days before his body was discovered.
He was buried on 3 January 2026. Until now, no one knows what happened to him, but bruises, burn marks and other wounds found on his body indicate that he was tortured and murdered. Nothing more has happened, but fears of further violence remain.
FEATURED IMAGE: A scene from Mela’s funeral on 20 December. Image: the author.