A friend accidentally killed his friend while he was joking with him using a gun. Bonginkosi Mazibuko from Nquthu, in the Midlands of KwaZulu Natal, was accidentally killed by his friend Mxolisi Msimango at a Total Garage on Thursday in front of passengers.

BEST OF FRIENDS

According to the commuters, Mazibuko and Msimango have been best friends for a long time and when they met at a fuel station they got excited and hugged each other. "We kept calling each other "mngani" (friend) when Bonginkosi was busy refuelling his taxi which was full of passengers. Mxolisi jokingly pretended to be taking some money from him and they laughed it off," a passenger said.

TURNING THE GUN ON HIMSELF

It is alleged that Msimango then took out his gun and began asking Mazibuko if he knows a real gun. "Shortly after that he heard a big bang and Bonginkosi fell on the ground. Petrol attendants ran away while Mxolisi tried to resuscitate him. Mxolisi realised that his friend was dead and he turned the gun against himself, pointed it to his head and shot and killed himself. He fell on top of Mxolisi.

REMORSEFUL

"I have never seen such a thing in entire life. Mxolisi died crying because he was remorseful about accidentally killing his friend. His last words to us was that we must tell their families that he was joking with friend and cannot live with guilt  of knowing that he killed his childhood friend," the passenger said. KZN Spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed the incident."Ngithi police are investigating a case of murder and inquest following an incident that occurred on 2 March 2023 at a petrol station. It is alleged that a 41-year old man was off loading passengers when he met his 31-year old friend and  had a conversation. Whilst chatting a firearm allegedly went off and hit the 31-year old man. When the taxi driver realised that his friend was dead, he allegedly turned the gun on himself."