Heartbreaking Stabbing of 71-Year-Old Nongazi Malgas Shocks Family, Leaves Community Reeling

Heartbreaking Stabbing of 71-Year-Old Woman Shocks Family, Leaves Community Reeling
A brutal stabbing has left a family and community in Tapushe Village, King William’s Town, devastated. Nongazi Malgas, 71, was attacked in her home in front of her grandchildren in a chilling crime that her daughter, Sesethu Malgas, believes was meant for her.
The tragedy unfolded last Tuesday, according to IOL, around 10 a.m. when an unknown man knocked on the door of Nongazi’s rondavel. Despite his calm demeanour, the visit quickly turned into a nightmare.
“My mother asked him who he was and what he wanted,” Sesethu recounted. “He said his name was Mofokeng but didn’t explain why he was there.”
While the grandchildren fetched water as instructed, chaos erupted inside. According to the family, the man launched a sudden and vicious attack, repeatedly stabbing Nongazi in the chest.
The horrific act unfolded before a nine-year-old grandson, while a 13-year-old granddaughter rushed to alert her older cousin. “The teenager peeped through the window and saw the man on top of my mother, stabbing her,” Sesethu said tearfully.
The attacker then walked out of the house and disappeared into nearby bushes. A 20-year-old family member attempted to pursue him but was stopped by a neighbour.
A Family Haunted by Violence
This tragedy is not the first to plague the Malgas family. In 2023, Sesethu’s niece, a 16-year-old girl, was fatally shot in her car in another unresolved case of violence.
“I was driving home when I was shot,” Sesethu recalled. “My niece was killed. We initially thought it might be linked to the Fort Hare shootings, but later ruled that out.”
Sesethu reported receiving threats and believed armed men were targeting her at the time. Fearing for her life, she fled to another province, leaving her home and family behind. Despite escalating her concerns to the police, she said little was done to investigate.
“The detective didn’t even take my statement,” she said. “It felt like someone was trying to frame my case as a gender-based violence issue to divert attention from the real suspects.”
“I Believe I Was the Target”
Sesethu is convinced her mother’s murder was another attempt on her life. She suspects the killer mistakenly targeted her mother, believing Sesethu would be home during her usual morning visits.
“This is personal,” she said. “If the police had properly investigated the first case, my mother would still be alive. The children are now traumatised, and I have to medicate them so they can sleep.”
Police Investigation Underway
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed that a murder case had been opened at Tamara SAPS.
“According to the information, it is alleged that the victim was inside her house when an unknown suspect entered and stabbed her,” Mawisa said. “No arrest has been made, but investigations are ongoing.”
Community and Family Seek Justice
The tragedy has left the community in shock and a family searching for answers. The Malgas family continues to grapple with the trauma of witnessing their matriarch’s death and the unresolved violence that has haunted them.
As the investigation continues, Sesethu pleads for justice, hoping that no other family will endure the pain they have faced.
“This isn’t just about my family,” she said. “It’s about ensuring that everyone in our community feels safe. We need action, not just words, from the police.”
The brutal loss of Nongazi Malgas is a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for justice. Her family’s resilience amid tragedy speaks volumes about their determination to find peace, even as they mourn an irreplaceable loss.
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