The community of Eersterust, east of Pretoria, has been left shaken and heartbroken following the brutal murder of 30-year-old Loveness Magabe, allegedly at the hands of a man she met through a dating app.
According to reports, Loveness was last seen on 26 July 2025 when she was heading to meet 36-year-old Helder Isidro. The two reportedly walked together from their meeting point until they reached the suspect’s residence. While inside, Loveness began to feel uneasy and reached out to a close friend.
In a chilling message, she described the room as “scary” and went on to share her exact location and the suspect’s phone number. Her final words in that conversation were haunting: “If I’m kidnapped, it would be this guy.” Soon after sending the message, her phone went off, and friends could no longer reach her. Alarmed, they reported her missing the next day.
Tragically, on 31 July, the search ended in devastation when a passerby discovered a shallow grave at the suspect’s property. Inside was the lifeless body of Loveness Magabe.
Police investigations quickly turned to Helder Isidro, who was tracked down and arrested on 4 August at his family’s home in Polokwane, Limpopo. He is now facing multiple serious charges, including rape, murder, and defeating the ends of justice. Authorities have confirmed that he has abandoned his bail application, meaning he will remain in custody while the case proceeds.
What makes the case even more disturbing is its potential link to a string of other recent murders in the Pretoria East area. In the past few weeks alone, four other women’s bodies have been found under similar circumstances. Investigators are now working to determine whether Isidro may have been involved in those cases as well, raising fears that this could be part of a wider pattern of targeted violence against women.
The murder of Loveness has reignited public outrage over the ongoing crisis of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide in South Africa. Community leaders, activists, and social media users have expressed their grief and anger, calling for urgent government action. Hashtags such as #WomenForChange, #SayHerName, #UnburyTheTruth, #EnoughSaid, and #AmINext have once again dominated online platforms, echoing the demand for stronger protections for women.
“This is not just another tragic incident,” one activist said. “It’s yet another life stolen, another family shattered, and another glaring reminder that South Africa is failing to protect its women. How many more lives must we lose before GBV is declared a national disaster?”
As the legal process unfolds, the community continues to mourn Loveness—a vibrant young woman whose life was cut short in the most brutal way. Her death serves as both a painful loss and a rallying cry for the nation to address the deep-rooted crisis of violence against women.
For many, justice for Loveness means not only securing a conviction for her killer but also ensuring that her death becomes a turning point in the fight against GBV and femicide.
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