The Mtubatuba community in northern KwaZulu-Natal is reeling in shock following the brutal murder of a 25-year-old woman, Lungelo Dube, who was ambushed and shot while on her way to collect money for her children. The heartbreaking incident took place last week near Bhoboza Fuel Station, an area increasingly plagued by violent crime.
According to reports, Lungelo left her home in KwaD in Mtubaba in the morning to meet the father of her two young daughters, who works at the nearby Bhoboza garage. She was expected to return with food, and her children—aged just 2 and 7—were left in the care of a family friend, patiently waiting for her return.
Tragically, she never made it back.
On her route through a path surrounded by gumtree plantations, Lungelo was ambushed by unknown assailants. She was robbed of her cellphone and fatally shot. Reports from the family say she was shot in the mouth at close range, and her head was severely damaged, making her almost unrecognizable. It is believed the murder occurred around 9 AM, but her lifeless body was only discovered hours later at approximately 4 PM by a passerby who then alerted the authorities.
The father of the children became increasingly concerned when he was unable to reach Lungelo by phone. He kept calling, not knowing that she had already been killed. When news of her death finally reached the family, they were devastated. Her body was later identified at the morgue, with the family describing the emotional trauma of seeing her in such a horrific state.
The senseless murder has sent waves of grief and anger through the Mtubatuba community. According to local residents, this is not an isolated incident. Just a week prior, another woman was reportedly murdered in the same area under similar circumstances. Community members claim that gangs operate in the region, often robbing and even killing innocent people who use the path.
Lungelo’s death has left a gaping hole in the lives of her two daughters. The children, unaware of the tragedy, continue to ask about their mother. Their father has now taken custody of them, but he is struggling with how to explain the loss. “They keep asking when their mother is coming back. I don’t know how to tell them,” he reportedly said.
The Dube and Sithole families, along with the broader Mtubatuba community, are calling for justice. They are urging local authorities and residents to work together to bring the perpetrators to justice and to put an end to the violence in the area.
“We cannot allow our mothers, sisters, and daughters to be murdered in cold blood while nothing is done,” said a family spokesperson.
As investigations continue, the community hopes that Lungelo Dube’s killers will be swiftly brought to justice, and that her tragic death will serve as a wake-up call to address crime and violence in the area.