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In a raw and emotional interview that has left South Africans reeling, Desmond Semang, the sole survivor of a devastating shooting in Mamelodi East, has recounted the terrifying moments that claimed the lives of cousins Tshiamo and Baleseng Moramaga on October 26, 2025. Speaking to the Justify Podcast, Semang detailed the night’s descent into horror, attributing his survival to divine intervention while grappling with the profound loss of the two young women he called friends.
The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of that Sunday morning, has been described as a tragic case of alleged gender-based violence, with 38-year-old Tebogo Mnisi accused of the murders. Mnisi, who allegedly had a romantic relationship with 22-year-old Tshiamo, faces charges of two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. He abandoned his bail application during his court appearance on October 29 and remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Semang, 27, was out celebrating at the Small Konka Shisanyama in Mamelodi East when he crossed paths with the Moramaga cousins, whom he had met through mutual friends. The group was enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the popular spot, dancing and socializing late into the night. “We were just having a good time, you know? Laughing, dancing—nothing out of the ordinary,” Semang recalled in the podcast. But as the clock struck around 2:30 a.m., the mood shifted dramatically.
According to Semang’s account, he and 21-year-old Baleseng decided to leave the shisanyama to continue their night at another venue. As they walked through the dimly lit streets of Extension 17, a vehicle pulled up alongside them. Behind the wheel was Mnisi, with Tshiamo in the passenger seat. What began as a seemingly innocuous stop quickly escalated into violence. “He started swearing at me, calling me out of my name. Before I could even react, he pulled out the gun and fired,” Semang said, his voice cracking as he relived the chaos.
Semang was struck twice—once in the private parts and another in his lower body—leaving him writhing in agony on the ground. In the gunfire that followed, Tshiamo and Baleseng were fatally shot in the head. Neighbors in the Mahube Valley area reported hearing heated arguments and bursts of gunfire around 4 a.m., with one witness recalling Mnisi’s chilling warning to Tshiamo: “You will push me to make mistakes.”
The cousins’ bodies were discovered lying side by side on Sompisi Street around 6 a.m. by passersby, who alerted authorities. Tshiamo’s phone was missing, presumed stolen, while messages on Baleseng’s device indicated the pair had been in contact moments before the attack.
From his hospital bed, where he spent weeks recovering from his severe wounds, Semang has expressed a mix of gratitude and grief. “God saved me that night. I don’t know why I made it out and they didn’t, but I feel like I have to tell their story,” he told podcast host Justify. He vehemently denied rumors that fueled the attack, including claims that he was romantically involved with one of the women or that the group had consumed expensive drinks without paying. “We bought our own stuff. This wasn’t about that—it was jealousy, pure and simple.”
The interview has sparked an outpouring of support online, with South Africans sharing messages of sympathy and calls for justice. “My heart breaks for Desmond and the families. Femicide like this can’t continue,” tweeted one user. However, some voiced concerns that Semang’s public disclosure could jeopardize the ongoing case, urging caution as police build their prosecution.
The Moramaga family, still shrouded in sorrow, laid Tshiamo and Baleseng to rest in a joint funeral on November 1. Itumeleng Moramaga, Tshiamo’s mother, shared her unimaginable pain in the aftermath: “I’m shattered. She was my only daughter. Now I’m left with two sons and a hole in my heart that nothing can fill.” The cousins, described by loved ones as inseparable and full of life, leave behind a community forever changed by their untimely deaths.
As the Mamelodi Magistrates Court prepares for Mnisi’s next appearance, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has reaffirmed its stance against gender-based violence. “We condemn these acts of femicide in the strongest terms and are committed to seeing justice served,” a spokesperson stated.
Semang’s harrowing testimony serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive dangers women face in South Africa, where intimate partner violence claims countless lives each year. His story, though painful, amplifies the urgent call for societal change.
