A horrific act of gender-based violence culminated in the death of the perpetrator, as mob justice abruptly ended his violent rampage, prompting the Newcastle South African Police Service (SAPS) to search for the individual who fatally slit the attacker’s throat.
The incident transpired at a factory in Newcastle’s Industrial area on Friday, 18 April 2025, at approximately 8:30 pm on Stephenson Street.
According to official police reports, corroborated by Amajuba SAPS District Spokesperson Constable Nonjabulo Langa, law enforcement received an urgent call to respond to a violent crime unfolding at the factory premises.
Upon arrival, the Public Order Policing (POP) Unit learned that at 7:30 pm, the suspect had stabbed an individual, who was transported to Madadeni Hospital. During this period, residents of the factory’s communal living quarters managed to temporarily pacify the suspect, endeavoring to ensure he would face accountability for his actions.
However, after an hour of relative calm, the perpetrator’s aggression resurfaced.
He began stabbing his girlfriend, and when her horrified sister intervened to protect her, the enraged suspect stabbed her as well. At this point, an undisclosed number of commune residents retaliated, assaulting the suspect. He sustained multiple stab wounds, and his throat was slit at the scene, resulting in his death.
The two sisters received immediate medical attention at the scene before being rushed to a hospital for further treatment. As the police now investigate this case of mob justice, Constable Langa stated, “Currently, police investigations are underway, and no arrests have yet been made.”
The tragic incident in Newcastle highlights the entrenched crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, where women face disproportionate risks in both domestic and public spaces.
The violent attack on two sisters, followed by mob justice, reflects the frustration of communities burdened by persistent violence and inadequate institutional responses.
According to the South African Medical Research Council, South Africa’s femicide rate was 5.5 per 100,000 women between 2020 and 2021, nearly five times the global average, with intimate partner violence accounting for a significant portion of these deaths. Newcastle’s police station, ranking 12th nationally for reported sexual offenses, underscores the acute local challenge within this national epidemic, as reported by the South African Police Service.
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