Sechabapele: community activist Thabang Mphuthi gunned down

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA – Well-known community activist Thabang Mphuthi, widely recognized for his advocacy under the banner of #Sechabapele, was brutally gunned down while on a routine trip to buy bread at a tuckshop in Makwane on the night of 5 February 2025.

According to police reports, six armed suspects arrived in a red bakkie and opened fire indiscriminately outside the tuckshop, fatally shooting Mphuthi, injuring his friend, and assaulting a bystander. The attackers then robbed the victims of their cellphones, sneakers, and Mphuthi’s Nissan NP300 bakkie, which was later recovered in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal.

A close friend of Mphuthi, Motshwahae Serowe, recounted the heartbreaking moment he learned of the activist’s killing.

“A mutual friend from the area called me and asked when I had last seen Thabang. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I dropped the phone in shock. I tried calling the police but couldn’t get through, so I reached out to another friend, and we immediately drove to the scene.”

Serowe later went to the police station to report that Mphuthi had a significant amount of cash in his car, raising suspicions that the attack may have also been a robbery.

Thabo Mofutsanyana District SAPS spokesperson, Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring, confirmed that no arrests have been made yet, and police are appealing for community assistance in tracking down the suspects.

“It is alleged that at about 21:05, an unknown red bakkie approached the tuckshop at Tebang Village. Six armed men got out and began shooting at people outside. They then demanded car keys from one of the victims; when he refused, they shot and killed him. They also shot his friend, assaulted another bystander, and robbed them before fleeing the scene in the stolen bakkie,” said Mophiring.

A case of murder, attempted murder, assault, and robbery is under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to come forward to assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Mphuthi’s murder has sent shockwaves through the QwaQwa community, where he was known for his activism and efforts to uplift local residents. His untimely death has sparked renewed calls for justice and action against rising crime in the area.