Disturbing new details have emerged following the brutal murder of young pharmacist Nomzila Bayabonga Madinane, with her family alleging that she had previously left an abusive relationship with a doctor who had allegedly threatened to kill her.
The 27-year-old pharmacist was shot and killed on Tuesday at her newly opened pharmacy in KwaNyuswa, KwaZulu-Natal, in an attack that also claimed the lives of two staff members, including her cashier Melissa Sbanda.
According to her loved ones, Nomzila had ended a relationship with a doctor she had dated until last year, describing the relationship as abusive. Family members allege that the former partner had made threats against her life in the past, although no official link has been made between those allegations and her murder.
Her family says concerns over Nomzila’s safety had existed for some time.
They claim that just a few months ago, gunmen allegedly entered another pharmacy she operated in Berea, but stole nothing before leaving, an incident that reportedly raised alarm among relatives who feared she may have been deliberately targeted.
Nomzila’s sister, Liat Madinane, said the slain pharmacist had invested heavily in private security due to fears for her safety.
According to Liat, the security guard stationed at the KwaNyuswa pharmacy had not only been hired to protect the business, but to protect Nomzila personally.
She revealed that Nomzila had been spending so much money on security that it reportedly no longer made business sense, underscoring the level of concern she had about her safety.
On the day of the attack, three armed men allegedly stormed into the newly opened pharmacy and opened fire, killing Nomzila and two staff members.
A security guard who reportedly attempted to intervene was also shot and rushed to hospital, where he remains fighting for his life.
The pharmacy had reportedly opened just a week before the deadly shooting, after Nomzila identified a need for easier access to medication in the community, where residents previously had to travel long distances to access pharmaceutical services.
No arrests have been made, and police investigations into the motive behind the killings remain ongoing.
Nomzila will be laid to rest on Sunday, 24 May 2026, at her ancestral home in Denny Dalton.
