The tragic murder of 20-year-old Khethokuhle “Mpho” Hlapisi has left a family devastated and a community in shock, as her father pleads for justice nearly seven months after her senseless killing.
Mpho, a resident of Nana’s Farm, was gunned down in November 2024 while visiting a friend. According to witnesses, a man knocked on the door of the shack and asked to speak to her. When Mpho stepped outside, an argument reportedly followed — and then, the sound of gunshots shattered the night.
“She was shot four times,” said her grieving father, who shares her name, Mpho. “This man came looking for my daughter as if he knew her.”
The shooter fled the scene and has yet to be identified. No arrests have been made in connection with the case, despite ongoing police investigations.
The elder Mpho believes the man responsible for his daughter’s death may also be linked to a recent high-profile murder case in Soweto. That case involved another 20-year-old woman whose body was discovered hidden under her boyfriend’s bed. He claims his daughter was secretly dating the same suspect.
“I only found out about their relationship after her death,” Mpho said. “Community members informed me, and I began my own investigation. I strongly suspect the same man is behind both murders.”
He said the alleged killer came under the pretense of resolving relationship issues, supposedly sent by Mpho’s boyfriend. But when Mpho denied knowing him and refused to go with him, an altercation ensued.
“She asked him who her supposed boyfriend was, because she didn’t recognize him,” her father recalled. “That’s when the situation escalated. He grabbed her. She broke free and ran, but he shot her multiple times before fleeing in the direction of Lenasia.”
Despite her father’s efforts to gather evidence and link the suspect to both murders, he remains powerless to act without official authority. “I profiled him, but I can’t bring him in for questioning. All I can do is hope the police connect the dots,” he said.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that an investigation is ongoing but that no suspects have been arrested.
“The suspect in Mpho’s case is still unknown. Police have followed up on all the leads and continue to investigate,” she said. Regarding the Soweto case, she added, “The suspect currently does not have any other cases registered against him, but our team is profiling him.”
As the investigation continues, Mpho’s family remains in mourning and in search of answers. Her father’s call for justice echoes the growing concerns of many South Africans facing rising violence against women and the slow pace of justice.
“I won’t rest until my daughter’s killer is found,” he said. “She didn’t deserve to die this way.”