Student k!lled after identifying robber during an attack
A 23-year-old student from Bulawayo Polytechnic, Inobubele Mhlanga, tragically lost her life on the evening of November 4 after recognizing one of her attackers during a robbery.
Mhlanga was confronted by two men, identified as Thamsanqa Ndebele (26) and Euton Sebatha (36), after disembarking from a commuter bus near the TM turnoff in Cowdray Park. The attack escalated when Mhlanga identified Ndebele, who was from her neighborhood.
Inspector Abednico Ncube, the provincial police spokesperson for Bulawayo, reported that witnesses found Mhlanga lying motionless in a pool of blood near the bus stop. She had sustained a stab wound over her right breast and multiple cuts on her hands, indicating she had attempted to defend herself. A kind individual took her to Mpilo Central Hospital for medical treatment, but unfortunately, she did not survive.
The following morning, police apprehended Playmore Mpofu (27), a fellow resident of Cowdray Park with a history of robberies. During interrogations, Mpofu confessed to his role in various robberies in the area, including his participation with Ndebele and Sebatha in the murder of Mhlanga. Ndebele later disclosed that he had stolen Mhlanga’s handbag, which contained approximately US$30. Investigations later revealed that Sebatha was the one who inflicted the fatal stab wound, fearing that Mhlanga would recognize him due to their close community ties.
This tragic event has heightened concerns among the public about the escalating violence and crime rates in Cowdray Park, leading to calls for enhanced security measures to protect the residents from similar devastating incidents.