The family and friends of a murdered man are enraged at his death and the circumstances surrounding the murder of their loved one.

  Mr Simphiwe Lali (29) visited the Flags tavern on Saturday, 28 January, where he stood having a drink at the bar.

  According to his friends and family who spoke to the Herald, a man and his niece were arguing about R 40, a cell phone and a knife, and were pushing and bumping each other in a violent argument right up to the exit of the tavern.

  Before exiting however, the man, Mr Leonard Sokami, turned around, grabbed Lali and started stabbing him.  “He stabbed my brother three times around the neck and the back areas,” told Lali’s sister, who wishes to remain anonymous.

  Medical rescue workers were called, but unfortunately Lali passed away before any medical help reached him.  “Sokami was definitely drunk,” said one of the suspects.

  Sokami appeared in the Oberholzer Magistrates Court on Monday, 30 January, but was given bail of R 5000.  “We are unhappy about this, said his friends and family, after protesting at the court on Monday, 13 February after his second appearance.  “He should have been locked up.”  Sokami’s case on Monday was postponed for further investigation and he is scheduled to appear in court next Friday again.

  “We do not want people like Sokami in our community,” said Lali’s family and friends.  “They are a danger to society.”  They also allege that Sokami referred to Lali as a dog because he had no money.  “He said that Simphiwe’s life was worth nothing anyway, and shows no remorse for what he did.”

  They also allege that Sokami’s friends tried to bribe Lali’s mother.  “Two of his friends went to Simphiwe’s mother and offered her money to drop charges against Sokami.”

  Furthermore, Lali’s friends and family describe him as a lovely person who was always joking.  He lived in Carletonville from the age of ten, attended primary school in Khutsong and completed his high school career in the Transkei.

  He was the father of a 12 year-old son, who now lives with his mother.  “He was a gift from God,” says one of his friends.  “He didn’t talk much, but was a kind, forgiving person.”

  They think back and, although sad, laugh a little when they tell of how Lali called everyone ‘Skeemsa’ which means ‘my friend.’  “He loved painting and building and always did the odd job here and there.”

  Lali was buried on Saturday, 4 February in Carletonville.  He is survived by his son, his mother, four sisters and his friends.