GIRLFRIEND SHOT, KILLED IN FRONT OF BOYFRIEND

MBHULENI – A woman lost her life after being shot, while her boyfriend valiantly tried to fend off two assailants during an attempted robbery.

Hlengiwe Nxumalo (30), a hairdresser from Siphambanweni, tragically died after being shot in the left eye at Mbhuleni in the early hours of Saturday. The couple, who had just alighted from their vehicle, was accosted by two men. They reportedly attempted to rob them of their cellphones, leading to a fatal altercation. Mbhuleni, a densely-populated settlement at Kwaluseni, has gained notoriety, not just for its rugged, dusty streets and crammed living conditions, but also for the alarming incidents of violent crime. The police have since arrested two suspects, who were allegedly involved not only in Nxumalo’s murder, but also in an attempted robbery at a local food store, where a security guard was shot.  Reports indicate that the suspects may have been responsible for previous crimes, including the theft of cellphones in nearby areas.

Narrating the story leading to the fateful incident, Nxumalo’s boyfriend said on the fateful morning, he and his girlfriend were travelling in his car, when they were approached by two armed men, just as they arrived at his rented flat at a Mkhonta homestead.  As the couple exited their vehicle and started making their way to his flat, he said they were unaware of the imminent danger, until two strangers appeared out of the darkness, one of whom brandished a firearm and pointed it at them.

Strangers

The boyfriend narrated that as the two strangers emerged from the darkness, he instinctively acted to protect Nxumalo by shoving her away from the weapon and grabbing his bag. He described the chaotic scene, saying: “I hit the gun such that it fell in front of the house. I was trying to fight them off, but unfortunately, Hlengiwe was fatally shot.” He shared that the struggle for control of the weapon was fierce, as the robber fought for it. “They didn’t say anything, just pointed the gun at us. One was wearing a balaclava, but the other wore a hat, so I could see his face. They were trying to take my bag, and we were struggling with each other,” he recounted.

Despite his valiant efforts, the man said the assailant managed to seize the gun from him. At this instance, he said in a desperate attempt to save the deceased and himself, the man wrestled with the assailants, fighting with all his strength.  However, he said one of the robbers managed to retrieve the gun and, in a split second, turned it towards Nxumalo. Horrified, the boyfriend watched helplessly as his girlfriend was struck by a bullet and collapsed to the ground.

He disclosed that he later learnt that the ordeal did not end there. He said he later discovered that the assailants, in their violent spree, had already allegedly shot a security guard at a nearby shopping complex and were reportedly linked to yet another incident at Mahhala. He said the firearm, it appeared, was their weapon of choice in a string of criminal acts that night, with Nxumalo’s life tragically becoming one of the casualties. Meanwhile, Sandile Mkhonta, the homeowner of where the incident occurred, confirmed the events. 

He opined that the suspects had been hiding at the gate of a neighbour’s property, where they waylaid the couple. Mkhonta noted that such crimes are prevalent in the area, remarking that it was unfortunate that his home was affected this time. He also revealed that reports indicated that the same suspects had allegedly stolen cellphones at Ngwane Park in the days leading to the incident. It was reported that the stolen cellphones were tracked and found at KaKhoza, where the suspects were believed to be staying.

Family

The family of the deceased was unavailable for comment at the time of this report. Her mother was informed that the publication was seeking their reaction to the loss of their loved one. However, the family chose not to make any statements. The last call was made at 4:30pm.  Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, confirmed the incident, stating that a 30-year-old woman of Siphambanweni was fatally shot in the left eye with a pistol by two unknown men at Mbhuleni. She added that the victim was declared dead upon arrival at Raleigh  Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital. Meanwhile, Vilakati also confirmed that a 28-year-old man of Ngololweni was arrested on Friday for unlawful possession of a 9mm pistol with ammunition.

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