A pregnant Zimbabwean woman was forced to deliver her baby next to her husband, who had been fatally stabbed by a gang of thugs.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The attack took place in the early hours of Thursday morning as 34-year-old Talent, whose surname has been withheld, stepped outside to place a hospital bag in an Uber that was meant to transport his expectant partner, Lillian Gono (33), to Dunoon Hospital.
Before he could return to help his wife, he was ambushed by a group of about eight men.
According to reports, the assailants viciously beat Talent before stabbing him multiple times in the head, stomach, and chest. They then fled with his mobile phone and the couple’s hospital bag, leaving him critically injured.
Hearing the commotion, Lillian, who was already in labour, struggled down the stairs, only to find her husband lying in a pool of blood. The shock of witnessing his brutal injuries caused her water to break immediately, triggering an urgent birth.
As her husband lay dying beside her, Lillian gave birth to a baby girl. Tragically, Talent passed away moments after his daughter was born. In honour of her late father, the newborn has been named Talent.
Family friend Toni Tresadern, who runs a children’s charity, described the attack as “utterly appalling.”
She revealed that the attackers laughed as they walked away, having taken a life over an old phone and a baby bag.
Local residents, fearing for their own safety, were too afraid to come to Lillian’s aid, leaving her to cradle her newborn alone next to her deceased husband until paramedics arrived.
The couple, originally from Zimbabwe, had been working hard to save money and were planning to return home in April to start a new life.
Talbot, a skilled welder, had been preparing to open his own hardware and welding business.
With Talent’s sudden passing, Lillian is now left to raise their two daughters alone five-year-old Mia and newborn Talent.
To support her, Jeannie Ross, Lillian’s former employer and friend, launched a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for Talent’s funeral and to help the grieving family return to Zimbabwe.
Ross recalled receiving a devastating voice message from Lillian, filled with screams and sobs as she described witnessing the attack and going into labour at the scene.
The fundraiser aims to collect R35,000, with nearly R34,770 already donated at the time of reporting.
South African Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed the tragic incident, stating that officers found the victim’s lifeless body at a medical clinic.
“The deceased succumbed to multiple stab wounds at the scene, and the unknown suspects remain at large. The case is being treated as a robbery and murder investigation,” he said.
The murder of Talent has sparked widespread outrage, with calls for improved security and police presence in high-crime areas like Joe Slovo.
The Zimbabwean community in South Africa has expressed deep condolences and is rallying behind Lillian to provide support in her time of grief.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the perpetrators to come forward to ensure justice is served.
