A 22‑year‑old woman, was brutally fatally shot
A 22‑year‑old woman, Thulani “Thuli” Mbendeni, was brutally fatally shot in Gqeberha on 2 February 2025 in an incident that has left neighbours and the wider community reeling.According to police reports, Mbendeni was walking to a nearby spaza shop in a residential area of the city when an unknown man called out her name. As she turned, the man allegedly opened fire, striking her multiple times. Despite rapid emergency response, Mbendeni was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses described the chilling moment. “I heard the shots and saw her collapse,” said a local resident who asked not to be named. “She was just on her way to buy something — there was no warning.”South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg confirmed that an investigation has been launched and that detectives are following several lines of inquiry. Investigators believe the attack was targeted, but have not yet publicly disclosed a motive or identified suspects.“Our priority is to apprehend those responsible and establish the motive for this senseless act of violence,” the captain said. “We are appealing to anyone with information about this incident to come forward.”
