A quiet morning in Mofolo South, Soweto, turned into a nightmare when a 28-year-old woman was fatally shot outside her home on Friday, June 6, 2025. The victim, who had just returned from dropping off her son and two other children at school, was attacked outside the gate of the property where she rented a backyard room.
According to eyewitnesses, the woman was walking back from a nearby school situated behind her residence when she encountered her killer. The suspect, described as wearing all black, ambushed her at the gate and shot her in the head. Paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after the incident but could only declare her dead upon arrival.
When reporters from the Daily Sun arrived, the woman’s body had already been covered with a brown blanket. Blood stains still marked the ground, a grim reminder of the violence that unfolded in broad daylight.
The local community has been left shaken and frightened. Residents expressed deep concern over the spike in violent crime in the area. This shooting marks the fifth fatal incident in the neighbourhood in just one week.
A neighbour, Thulile Mbele, recounted the horrifying moment she heard the gunshot. “I was about to take out my dustbin when I heard a loud bang. I quickly ducked and stayed inside. A few minutes later, I saw a young boy running, and then I noticed the woman lying at the gate,” she said.
Thulile said she rushed to check on the woman and found her still breathing. “She was gasping for air. I didn’t know what to do. I just stood there, helpless, until she took her last breath,” she recalled, visibly emotional.
Another neighbour, Zola, said she had also heard the gunshot while inside her house. “When I heard someone scream that a person had been shot, I rushed out. I didn’t realise it was the young lady who had just moved into the garage room,” she said. Zola mentioned that the victim had recently started helping one of the tenants look after a child, but not much was known about her personal background.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that a murder case has been opened. “A 28-year-old woman was shot by an unidentified suspect outside her residence. We urge anyone with information to come forward,” he said. The motive for the killing is still unknown, and police have launched a manhunt for the suspect.
The brutal murder has left the community gripped with fear, and residents are calling for increased police visibility and protection. As investigations continue, many are hoping for justice and answers in what appears to be a senseless act of violence.
