A tragic shooting incident in which a man shot and killed three people, wounded four others and then turned the gun on himself in Gauteng this past weekend has sent shockwaves through the Vhembe community.
Although the incident took place in Ivory Park in Ekurhuleni, most of the victims, as well as the shooter, are from the Vhembe district.
A police officer was also wounded in the incident, which is believed to be related to domestic violence. Of the three people killed, one was the man’s girlfriend.
The events unfolded in Kanana, near Rabie Ridge in Gauteng, on Friday morning, 17 April.
Ekurhuleni district police spokesperson Nelda Sekgobela said the shooting started just after 06:30. A security guard armed with a licensed firearm, allegedly went to his girlfriend’s home, where an argument broke out. “The couple had an argument, and the security officer shot and killed his 37-year-old girlfriend. On his way out of the house, he shot and killed a man who was renting a room in the same yard and also shot another family member,” she said.
She added that the girlfriend’s elderly sister was shot in the lower body and taken to hospital for medical treatment. Following the incident, the suspect allegedly took the girlfriend’s eight-year-old son and fled the scene.
“On the way, he encountered a Rabie Ridge police van and started shooting in the direction of the driver and crew. One female police officer sustained minor injuries to the upper body and was taken to hospital,” Sekgobela said.
According to reports, the suspect shot a total of seven people during the incident, killing three and wounding four before taking his own life.
The victims who were confirmed dead include Fhumulani Ratshilavhi, the suspect’s girlfriend, from Ha-Ramantsha outside Louis Trichardt, and Livhuwani Sadiki from Maila village near Vleifontein, who was the husband of the girlfriend’s elderly sister. Another victim was an unidentified man who was renting a room in the same yard. The suspect was identified as Alpha Mukosi from Lwamondo Tshivhale outside Thohoyandou.
The spokesperson for the Ratshilavhi family, Dzumbululo Ratshilavhi, brother of the late Fhumulani, said the incident had caught the family completely off guard. He explained that Fhumulani had been staying with Mukosi.
“He started arguing with her and then began shooting. When he went outside the house, he shot a man who was renting in the same yard without saying anything. He then went next door, where my elderly sister and her family were staying, and continued shooting,” he said.
Ratshilavhi further explained that the suspect then shot the deceased’s elderly sister, who was, at the time of going to press, still in an intensive care unit (ICU), as well as her 16-year-old daughter, who was also receiving treatment in hospital. The elderly sister’s husband, Sadiki, was shot dead.
Ratshilavhi said Mukosi fled the scene using his sister’s vehicle. He added that the vehicle belonging to the deceased was later found burnt not far from the scene. It is alleged that Mukosi hijacked another vehicle that had a tracking device. When he realised that police were following him, the suspect reportedly stopped the vehicle and took his own life. The eight-year-old boy was recovered safely.
“We accepted him as our sister’s boyfriend since 2023, not knowing that he was a dangerous man,” Ratshilavhi said, adding that they could not believe Mukosi was capable of such acts. He said the relationship between the couple had become strained, as they were often involved in arguments.
Itani Ngenguda of the Real Men Foundation Men’s Forum also condemned the killings. “This is a very sad day for our communities. We are constantly talking about reconciliation and peaceful conflict resolution, yet incidents like this continue to happen. Violence gives a bad name to men and undermines the efforts of government and non-governmental organisations working to end violence against women and children,” he said. He further appealed to members of the public to resolve disputes peacefully and seek counselling during times of conflict to prevent further loss of life.
Livhuwani Sadiki will be buried on Saturday in Maila, while Fhumulani Ratshilavhi will be laid to rest in Ha-Ramantsha on Sunday. Alpha Mukosi will be buried on Saturday in Lwamondo Tshivhale.