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The township of Mamelodi remains on edge after two young women were found shot dead in the early hours of Sunday morning — and now, fresh details have set the community ablaze, both literally and emotionally.
According to residents, the man believed to be behind the brutal killings is a local bouncer who allegedly spent more than R10,000 on alcohol during a night out with the victims before tragedy struck. The suspect is now reportedly on the run, and his home has been set alight by angry residents who say they are tired of watching killers walk free.
Police have confirmed that they are aware of the suspect’s identity, but no arrests have yet been made. The community, however, claims they have already handed over crucial information — and are frustrated by what they see as inaction from law enforcement.
The bodies of cousins, Tshiamo and Baleseng Moramaga, aged 22 and 21, were found lying beside a road in Mahube Valley, Mamelodi Extension 7, around 4 a.m. Both had been shot in the head.
A graphic video showing the aftermath circulated online within hours, drawing national outrage and sparking renewed debate about South Africa’s ongoing war against women.
Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed that a double murder investigation is underway. “Upon arrival, police found the bodies of two female victims with gunshot wounds to the head. The motive is unknown at this stage, and no arrests have been made,” Sibeko said.
But residents of Mamelodi say they already know who did it.
“He’s a bouncer, everyone knows him,” said one man who spoke on condition of anonymity. “People say he was at the same groove with the girls, he bought them drinks, and later things turned bad. The next thing, they were found dead.”
Another resident said the community’s anger reached boiling point after learning that the suspect had vanished. “When we got to his place, he was gone. So we burned it down. Maybe now the police will move faster,” the resident added.
Videos circulating online show thick smoke and flames consuming a house believed to belong to the suspect. Locals can be heard shouting that they are “taking justice into their own hands” because the system has failed them.
The incident has once again put a spotlight on South Africa’s deepening gender-based violence (GBV) crisis.
Online, hashtags such as #JusticeForMamelodiCousins and #StopKillingWomen began trending as users demanded urgent action. Many described the double murder as another example of how women in South Africa remain unsafe — even after walking away from abusive or manipulative men.
“This is not just a crime, it’s a symptom of a broken country,” wrote one user. “We can’t go a week without hearing about another woman being killed by someone she trusted.”
Others questioned how the suspect managed to disappear so easily despite residents providing police with his name and address.
Community activist Miyelani Ramojela, who leads the group Tzaneen Speak Out, condemned the killings and called for accountability. “These were young women with a future ahead of them. They went out for a night of fun and never made it back home. This cannot become normal.”
Family members of the victims have described them as “inseparable” and “full of life.” Tshiamo was training in beauty therapy, while Baleseng was a student pursuing a teaching degree.
“It’s too much to take in,” said Itumeleng Moramaga, Tshiamo’s mother. “They were cousins, but they were more like sisters. They grew up together, went to the same school, and did everything side by side. Now they’re both gone.”
The Aubrey Tau Foundation has since offered a R250,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the killer. “Someone knows something,” the foundation said. “We need to bring whoever did this to justice — quickly.”
While police continue to “investigate,” tensions remain high. Some residents have warned that if authorities do not act soon, more vigilante attacks could follow.
“People are tired,” said a local shop owner. “Every time something like this happens, we wait for police, and nothing comes of it. These girls were like our own children.”
The tragedy comes amid alarming national statistics. According to SAPS quarterly crime data, nearly 1,000 women were murdered in South Africa between April and June 2025 — roughly 10 every day.
Experts say the numbers reflect a broader crisis of impunity and social breakdown, where victims of abuse are often ignored until it’s too late.
“The police can’t be everywhere, but their absence is being felt everywhere,” said a criminologist from the University of Pretoria. “When communities lose trust in the justice system, they resort to their own form of justice — and that’s dangerous for everyone.”
In Mamelodi, that danger is already unfolding. The suspect’s house lies in ruins, the streets are filled with anger, and the two cousins’ families are preparing for funerals instead of futures.
“This is what happens when justice moves too slow,” said one community member outside the burnt property. “We’ve buried too many of our daughters. This time, we’re not waiting.”
Police have urged the public not to take the law into their own hands and to report any information that could lead to the suspect’s arrest.
For now, Mamelodi remains a community in mourning — and on edge. The burned house stands as both a warning and a symbol of frustration, while two young women’s lives, once full of promise, have become another statistic in South Africa’s long, tragic list of gender-based killings.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app. All information will be treated confidentially.
