A 19-year-old teenager from Giyani, Nhlamulo Sambo, was allegedly stabbed to death in Mossel Bay during unrest reportedly linked to protests targeting foreign nationals.
According to the family, Nhlamulo was allegedly attacked after being mistaken for a foreign national because he spoke Xitsonga.
His sister, Nonhlanhla Sambo, said her brother was allegedly removed from a residence and fatally stabbed during the incident.
In a social media post, she described the family’s pain and called for justice.
“They killed my brother as if his life meant nothing. His only ‘fault’ was being Tsonga in a predominantly Xhosa community. As a family, we are deeply hurt by this inhumane act. Justice must be served, and we will not remain silent.”
The teenager’s mother, who is reportedly unemployed, has also spoken of her devastation following her son’s death. According to the family, she is now faced with the painful task of repatriating Nhlamulo’s body from the Western Cape to Limpopo for burial.
The grieving mother said she is struggling to come to terms with the manner in which her son was killed and described the loss as heartbreaking.
The allegations have sparked outrage on social media, with many South Africans calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Nhlamulo’s death.
Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the motive for the killing, and police investigations are expected to determine whether the attack was linked to the unrest reported in the area.
The tragic incident has renewed concerns about violence, xenophobia, and the dangers of individuals being targeted based on language, ethnicity, or perceived nationality.
