Fear and Outrage in Mamelodi: Two Young Women Found Shot Dead on the Roadside

Fear and Outrage in Mamelodi: Two Young Women Found Shot Dead on the Roadside

The township of Mamelodi woke up to horror this week after the bodies of two young women, aged just 21 and 22, were discovered on the side of a road in Mahube Valley. Both had been shot in the head.

A video of the gruesome scene quickly spread across social media, igniting shock and anger from residents and activists who say the tragedy highlights South Africa’s ongoing epidemic of violence against women.

Police confirmed that a double murder investigation has been opened. “Upon arrival, police found the bodies of two female victims with gunshot wounds to the head,” said police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko. “A case of double murder has been opened, and the motive is unknown at this stage.”

No arrests have been made, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward via the SAPS Crime Stop line (0800 10111) or the MySAPS app.

“Another Day, Another Name” – A Nation Tired of Violence

On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), many South Africans expressed outrage, with hashtags like #JusticeForMamelodiWomen and #StopKillingWomen trending by Monday morning.

Community activists in Tshwane described the killings as part of a “larger pattern” of gender-based violence that continues to claim lives with little consequence. “We’re tired of seeing young women dumped like they’re nothing,” one Mamelodi resident told a local journalist. “They had names, families, dreams, but all we see are bodies and hashtags.”

Gender-based violence remains one of South Africa’s most urgent crises. According to the latest SAPS quarterly crime stats, over 900 women were murdered in just three months between April and June this year, an average of 10 women a day.

Parallel Tragedy in KwaZulu-Natal

While Tshwane reels from the Mamelodi murders, KwaZulu-Natal recorded yet another shooting the second in less than a week.

A man in his fifties was gunned down outside an apartment complex on Bamboo Lane in Pinetown, west of Durban. Paramedics from ALS arrived shortly after 11:20am to find SAPS already on the scene.

“Paramedics assessed the man and found he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, he showed no signs of life and was declared deceased,” said ALS spokesperson Garrith Jamieson.

Authorities have not confirmed a motive but suspect a drive-by shooting, adding to a growing list of violent incidents in the province.

Just last week, another man was killed and one person injured in what appeared to be a targeted hit, highlighting a surge in violent crime across KwaZulu-Natal.

A Growing Crisis of Insecurity

Both incidents, the Mamelodi double murder and the Pinetown shooting, underscore a deeper sense of fear and fatigue among South Africans who feel unsafe even in broad daylight.

In communities like Mamelodi, the loss of two young women isn’t just another crime scene; it’s a painful reminder of how normalized violence has become.

Public safety experts say the problem is not only about policing but also about the lack of social protection, job opportunities, and mental health support that push both perpetrators and victims into cycles of violence.

As police hunt for leads, residents in both provinces are left asking the same haunting question: Who will be next and when will it end?

If you have information that could help police:
Call Crime Stop: 0800 10111
Use the MySAPS app (available on Android and iOS)

{Source: The Citizen}

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