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A 27-year-old survivor who was shot during an ordeal that claimed the lives of two women in Mamelodi says it could have only been God who saved his life.
Desmond Senong was with cousins Tshiamo and Baleseng Moramaga just moments before they were gunned down in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It was supposed to be a carefree night out — music, laughter, and dancing at Small Konka Shisanyama in Mamelodi East. But before sunrise, the atmosphere of joy had turned to horror.
Senong, still recovering from his injuries, says he can barely believe he’s alive.
“It could have only been God,” he said from his hospital bed. “When I think of what happened, I don’t know how I made it out.”
A Night Out Turns to Chaos
According to Senong, he met the Moramaga cousins through mutual friends and often bumped into them around Mamelodi’s nightlife spots. On Saturday night, they found themselves at the same venue again — laughing, drinking, and dancing.
He even recorded short clips of them together — videos that would later become painful evidence of how quickly life can change.
What Senong didn’t realise was that Tshiamo’s boyfriend, 38-year-old Tebogo Mnisi, was also there. Mnisi, who allegedly worked as a bouncer, was watching the group from a distance.
“I went inside to look for my friend,” Senong recalled. “When I came back, I saw Tshiamo standing by the entrance with someone. Later I found out it was Tebogo.”
Senong says he was drunk and didn’t pay much attention when Mnisi told him to stop being noisy. “I didn’t think it was serious,” he said quietly.
The Deadly Encounter
At around 2:30 a.m., Senong left the shisanyama with Baleseng. They planned to continue the night at another venue. But before they could get far, a car suddenly stopped in front of them.
“I saw him park right in front of us,” Senong said. “He got out, cocked the gun, and started shooting.”
He remembers seeing Tshiamo in the passenger seat, panicking and asking Mnisi what he was doing. Then everything became chaos.
“I felt pain immediately. I was shot in my private parts, but somehow I still managed to run.”
Running for His Life
Bleeding and terrified, Senong ran through dark streets, jumping over walls and into strangers’ yards.
“I thought he was going to finish me off,” he said. “I didn’t stop running. I just wanted to get home.”
When he finally reached his house, he called out for help. Neighbours rushed him to the hospital, where doctors confirmed he had been shot twice. One bullet had destroyed a testicle.
“The doctor told me I might not be able to have more children,” he said softly. “I have a daughter, and I always wanted more kids. But at least I’m alive.”
The Aftermath
While Senong was fighting for his life, tragedy had already struck elsewhere. Both Tshiamo and Baleseng Moramaga were found dead — Tshiamo shot in the head, and Baleseng in the chest.
The murders shocked Mamelodi. Videos of the cousins dancing at Small Konka just hours earlier flooded social media, leaving South Africans horrified by the contrast between their joy and their brutal end.
Within days, police arrested Tebogo Mnisi, the man alleged to have pulled the trigger.
In Court
Mnisi appeared in the Mamelodi Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, facing five charges, including two counts of murder, attempted murder, and firearm-related offences. He abandoned bail.
He showed little emotion as prosecutors detailed the events leading up to the shooting. Community members who filled the courtroom murmured angrily as his name was read.
Outside, residents held placards demanding justice. “No bail for killers,” read one sign. “Justice for the Moramaga cousins,” said another.
Police confirmed that Mnisi’s firearm had been sent for ballistic testing and that investigators were gathering additional video evidence from the shisanyama.
“It Could Have Been Me Too”
From his hospital bed, Senong says he is haunted by the memory of the two women.
“I keep thinking — if I hadn’t run, I’d be dead too,” he said. “They didn’t deserve that. We were just out to have fun.”
He insists he had no romantic interest in either of the cousins. “We were just vibing. I didn’t even know Tshiamo had a boyfriend. If I had known, I would have kept my distance.”
He says he has been praying for the Moramaga family and trying to find peace. But sleep doesn’t come easily. “Every time I close my eyes, I hear the gunshot again,” he said.
A Community in Shock
The double murder has reignited debate about gender-based violence and toxic relationships. Mamelodi residents say the tragedy highlights how quickly jealousy and anger can turn deadly.
“We’re tired of burying women,” said one local resident. “Every weekend it’s another story — another boyfriend, another gun.”
Others pointed to alcohol, nightlife culture, and easy access to firearms as ingredients in a growing crisis. “These guys drink, get angry, and pull the trigger,” said a community leader. “We’ve normalised violence.”
Life After the Bullet
For Senong, recovery is slow — both physically and emotionally. Doctors say he will need months of rehabilitation.
“I can’t work, I can’t walk properly, and now I have to live with what I saw,” he said. “But I thank God. Because I could be gone like them.”
His story has added another layer to a case that has left South Africa shaken — a night of laughter, jealousy, and death that turned a Mamelodi tavern into a crime scene.
Tebogo Mnisi remains in custody. His next court appearance is set for 19 January 2026.
As the legal process unfolds, one question lingers in the minds of many: how did a simple night out end with two young women dead and another man praying just to survive?
