By: Bongekile Gumede
A mother, Nelisiwe Radebe, 43, who was shot and killed by unknown men at her home in Kingdom Avenue, Newlands West, was laid to rest on Wednesday, 7 April. Radebe and her lover, Jabulani Mzamo, 43, were attacked by men who posed as rental seekers in front of their child in the afternoon around 7pm on Monday, 29 March.
Radebe died on the scene after she was shot three times in the forehead and Mzamo is in hospital fighting for his life having suffered three bullet wounds to the stomach. Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed the incident saying that charges for murder and attempted murder are being investigated by the Newlands East SAPS. Gwala said investigations are continuing, however no arrests have been made.
Speaking to The Springfield Weekly Gazette, a family spokesperson who feared for her life and chose not to be named said: “On the day of the incident the lovers were at their home watching TV when two unknown men came to their front door and asked if they had a vacant rental room in their property. They were informed that all the rooms had been taken and there was nothing available. The men started getting violent and demanded to be let inside the house.
“When Radebe refused, they forced open the locked burglar guard and entered forcefully proceeding toward the garage and shot Mzamo who had run to hide for his safety. They shot him three times in the tummy and thereafter returned to the lounge and shot Radebe three times in the forehead. Radebe was declared dead at that moment.
“All of this happened in front of one of Radebe’s three children who was also seated on a different couch watching TV. The two others were not in the house when it all happened. One was on the road speaking to some friends and the eldest had left in the morning for some errands.”
The spokesperson said this was very tragic and traumatising for the one child who had witnessed everything. “The other child who was on the street with some friends said he heard the gunshots and assumed they were coming from his house and ran in the opposite direction.”
The family spokesperson described Radebe as a humble person who was self-employed and ran a tuck shop in the area while also renting out property. “She had just entered into a new relationship with Mzamo who the kids took as their stepfather. Their relationship was a healthy one with no complaints and the cause of the shooting is still unknown to the family. We are just hoping that the police will do their job and find the culprit. Radebe and Mzamo had no enemies as far as the family is concerned, however, it is quite clear that someone had a problem with them.
“I was closer to Radebe more than Mzamo and can tell you that she was a loving mother who supported her kids and made sure that they were happy after she had separated with their biological father. The children are traumatised and are scared of what can happen next, whether these men will come back for them as well as they are still out roaming the streets. As a family we are also scared and we hope that justice is served fast,” the family spokesperson added. Radebe leaves behind three children aged 23, 21 and 16 as well as a grandchild.
