Beaten To Death By Wife For Wanting To Watch World Cup Soccer Instead of Gospel Show
This is what a Limpopo man died for: the match between Germany and Australia on June 13 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Limpopo is on the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa. The 61-year old man fought for the remote with his wife and children and resorted to changing channels by hand when they overpowered him. At which point they beat him to death. All because they wanted to watch a gospel show and not soccerHarare, Zimbabwe, 19 June 2010
David Makoeya, a South African man in the Limpopo province of South Africa, on the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, was beaten to death this last week by his wife and two children after insisting on watching Germany play Australia in the World Cup on television.
Makoeya, who was 61, had his remote control confiscated by his wife, who insisted that she and the children wanted to watch a gospel show at that time.
Furious, Makoeya attempted several times to take back the remote but failed. At which point he then stood up and changed channels by hand, switching to the Germany/Australia match, to the chagrin of his wife, 32-year old son and 23-year old daughter.
They pounced on him and assaulted him viciously before the son threw him against the wall.
South African police believe that he bashed his head against the wall and fell down unconscious, at which point the family then called the police and an ambulance. By the time the medics arrived, however, the 61 year old was dead.
His 68-year old wife and the 32-year old son are still behind bars, while the daughter has been given bail.
World Cup fever has gripped Southern Africa to alarming levels. Through the night, all over Harare, for instance, one can hear the melodious trumpeting of the Vuvuzela (a plastic horn) being blown by fans watching games on television in their homes, trying desperately to recreate the atmosphere of being right there in the stadium.
So bad has the blowing of horns become that the main South South African Sunday paper, the Sunday Times, for instance, reported this last Sunday that a woman ruptured her throat in a Vuvuzela-blowing contest in that country. She claims she is healing well.
World Cup tickets were being sold at exorbitant prizes in Zimbabwe and only the elite and well-heeled have managed to make it down south to watch some matches live.
What's more, although it is clear that Zimbabwe does not register at all on the radar of World Cup fans in South Africa, Zimbabwean companies have been attempting to cash in on the fever, holding World Cup promotions and so on.
The brain drain that has bedeviled the country, however, means that there are very few savvy marketers left in the country. This is seen in the amateurish attempts by most of these Zimbabwean companies, trying to jump on the latest bandwagon.
They are advertising on Zimbabwe television and in Zimbabwe newspapers, although common marketing sense would tell them to advertise in the South African papers instead.
But, it must be said also that the owners of the businesses in Zimbabwe itself also contribute to this, as they still retain the hyperinflation mentality of having a captive market that has no choice. So, instead of investing in their marketing efforts, they scrimp on expenditure and still expect that a First World audience currently in South Africa will be attracted by their sub-standard and cheapskate efforts!!!
In any case, we have a couple of weeks before the World Cup ends, and when it does, that is actually the time when people will be looking to see what else they can do around South Africa or neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe.
Right now, as evidenced by the death of the Limpopo man, all attention is focused on the game itself and the matches. Someone who would have traveled from Europe or the Americas to watch soccer in South Africa is obviously an ardent fan, who is unlikely to turn his or her attention away from the beautiful game until after the World Cup ends. By then, of course, the cheapskates would have exhausted the few thousand dollars they would have put aside for their "promotions"!!
One thing that is noticeable right now is how, when the countries in soccer are playing, Zimbabwean streets are close to deserted. You see very little pedestrian traffic, although vehicles continue moving as though nothing was going on.
The news of Makoeya's death has predictably made headlines all over the world, since the world media was on edge already, waiting for the notoriously violent South Africa to put on a show of its true violent character during this tournament.
I am sure we will hear more of violence before the tournament ends.
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David Makoeya, a South African man in the Limpopo province of South Africa, on the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, was beaten to death this last week by his wife and two children after insisting on watching Germany play Australia in the World Cup on television.
Makoeya, who was 61, had his remote control confiscated by his wife, who insisted that she and the children wanted to watch a gospel show at that time.
Furious, Makoeya attempted several times to take back the remote but failed. At which point he then stood up and changed channels by hand, switching to the Germany/Australia match, to the chagrin of his wife, 32-year old son and 23-year old daughter.
They pounced on him and assaulted him viciously before the son threw him against the wall.
South African police believe that he bashed his head against the wall and fell down unconscious, at which point the family then called the police and an ambulance. By the time the medics arrived, however, the 61 year old was dead.
His 68-year old wife and the 32-year old son are still behind bars, while the daughter has been given bail.
World Cup fever has gripped Southern Africa to alarming levels. Through the night, all over Harare, for instance, one can hear the melodious trumpeting of the Vuvuzela (a plastic horn) being blown by fans watching games on television in their homes, trying desperately to recreate the atmosphere of being right there in the stadium.
So bad has the blowing of horns become that the main South South African Sunday paper, the Sunday Times, for instance, reported this last Sunday that a woman ruptured her throat in a Vuvuzela-blowing contest in that country. She claims she is healing well.
World Cup tickets were being sold at exorbitant prizes in Zimbabwe and only the elite and well-heeled have managed to make it down south to watch some matches live.
What's more, although it is clear that Zimbabwe does not register at all on the radar of World Cup fans in South Africa, Zimbabwean companies have been attempting to cash in on the fever, holding World Cup promotions and so on.
The brain drain that has bedeviled the country, however, means that there are very few savvy marketers left in the country. This is seen in the amateurish attempts by most of these Zimbabwean companies, trying to jump on the latest bandwagon.
They are advertising on Zimbabwe television and in Zimbabwe newspapers, although common marketing sense would tell them to advertise in the South African papers instead.
But, it must be said also that the owners of the businesses in Zimbabwe itself also contribute to this, as they still retain the hyperinflation mentality of having a captive market that has no choice. So, instead of investing in their marketing efforts, they scrimp on expenditure and still expect that a First World audience currently in South Africa will be attracted by their sub-standard and cheapskate efforts!!!
In any case, we have a couple of weeks before the World Cup ends, and when it does, that is actually the time when people will be looking to see what else they can do around South Africa or neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe.
Right now, as evidenced by the death of the Limpopo man, all attention is focused on the game itself and the matches. Someone who would have traveled from Europe or the Americas to watch soccer in South Africa is obviously an ardent fan, who is unlikely to turn his or her attention away from the beautiful game until after the World Cup ends. By then, of course, the cheapskates would have exhausted the few thousand dollars they would have put aside for their "promotions"!!
One thing that is noticeable right now is how, when the countries in soccer are playing, Zimbabwean streets are close to deserted. You see very little pedestrian traffic, although vehicles continue moving as though nothing was going on.
The news of Makoeya's death has predictably made headlines all over the world, since the world media was on edge already, waiting for the notoriously violent South Africa to put on a show of its true violent character during this tournament.
I am sure we will hear more of violence before the tournament ends.
BACK TO FRONT PAGE FOR LATEST ZIMBABWE NEWS
What a weird world to have someone beaten to death over a television show (understandbly the man fell which contributed to his death). We do not have the kind of World Cup Fever here in Canada. We go on with our normal course of business.
ReplyDeleteWow. I mean....wow. How unfortunate and crazy that the man died just for that. omg Shame.
ReplyDeleteThe entire world is trying to cash in, and the U.S. is busy trying to get us all excited about the World Cup as well. It's not that easy to do over here, as we have so many other sports that have been our mainstays for decades. We tend to get more excited about our American football and baseball. Living in a very diverse and international neighborhood, though, I do get to see and feel the excitement of those from other countries. I don't think it will ever be as big here as in other countries, though. It's great to see everyone else get so excited, though! ;)
Wonderfully informative post as always. I so wish the power of the sport would bring everyone together in an atmosphere of peace, love and understanding. Along with an openness to learn other cultures.
ReplyDeleteWow Denford! That's really troubling. It was an eye catcher, it's very tragic...I know some American women want to do just that, on men who sit and watch American football. It sounds like something out of America. However sad, Good post...
ReplyDeleteOMG, this is very serious LOL!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad, sad, story. There's been so much drama surrounding the entire event. So far, it has attracted loads of negative energy. I'm sure many people will be relieved when it's finally over.
ReplyDeleteBeaten over a TV show, is beyond pathetic and repulsive in any country. It would not matter the TV show it's still awful; but I think horribly ironic, these people wanted to watch a gospel show....a religious show, and they were so religious they beat a human to death. They beat their own flesh and blood to death because they wanted to watch a religious show? I am beyond repulsed by this.
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine this happening! Not that any beating is ok but I could never imagine a family doing this-over a tv show. Horrifying really. No TV show should ever be worth fighting over.
ReplyDelete