Murdered KDM official identified as rising star Nokulunga Mashabane
Nokulunga Mashabane, a senior municipal official, was found murdered in her car on Friday, prompting a murder investigation and tributes from Mayor Ali Ngidi.
Mashabane (31) was discovered on the Zinkwazi Link Road around 1.30am with gunshot wounds to the head and neck.
KwaDukuza police confirmed that a case of murder is being investigated. No arrests have been made.
KwaDukuza mayor Ali Ngidi expressed his shock, describing Mashabane as a 'rising star' in local government.
Ngidi described her as humble, respectful, professional and deeply committed to her work.
He said the two had spoken the day before at a school function and were due to meet again at a Youth Month event on Friday.
Mashabane began her municipal career in 2019 as a secretary in the communications department and recently rose to a position in the mayor's office, overseeing intergovernmental relations and protocol.
Originally from KwaMshibe in Maphumulo, she held qualifications in public relations from DUT and was studying towards an honours degree with UNISA.
Ngidi said Mashabane was known for her grace, work ethic and passion for public service.
'She was so gentle she wouldn't hurt a fly, and yet she was met with such unimaginable brutality.'
He called for calm and urged the public to avoid speculation while police investigations continue.
'Violence against women and children has become so pervasive that in some circles it is viewed as normal, and that is unacceptable. We must let the law take its course and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.'
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The Citizen
15 hours ago
- The Citizen
Murdered KDM official identified as rising star Nokulunga Mashabane
Nokulunga Mashabane, a senior municipal official, was found murdered in her car on Friday, prompting a murder investigation and tributes from Mayor Ali Ngidi. Mashabane (31) was discovered on the Zinkwazi Link Road around 1.30am with gunshot wounds to the head and neck. KwaDukuza police confirmed that a case of murder is being investigated. No arrests have been made. KwaDukuza mayor Ali Ngidi expressed his shock, describing Mashabane as a 'rising star' in local government. Ngidi described her as humble, respectful, professional and deeply committed to her work. He said the two had spoken the day before at a school function and were due to meet again at a Youth Month event on Friday. Mashabane began her municipal career in 2019 as a secretary in the communications department and recently rose to a position in the mayor's office, overseeing intergovernmental relations and protocol. Originally from KwaMshibe in Maphumulo, she held qualifications in public relations from DUT and was studying towards an honours degree with UNISA. Ngidi said Mashabane was known for her grace, work ethic and passion for public service. 'She was so gentle she wouldn't hurt a fly, and yet she was met with such unimaginable brutality.' He called for calm and urged the public to avoid speculation while police investigations continue. 'Violence against women and children has become so pervasive that in some circles it is viewed as normal, and that is unacceptable. We must let the law take its course and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.'
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Sandton Gay Pride went ahead as planned despite a terror warning by the US embassy in this file photo. South Africa is not only one of the only pro-queer African nations to date, but it is also the only country to have legalised same-sex marriage, and only the fifth in the world to have done so. Image: Timothy Bernard/African News Agency (ANA) IN South Africa, June is not only Youth Month, it is also the international Pride Month. This is a commemorative month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, celebrating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in local and international cultures and communities. South Africa is not only one of the only pro-queer African nations to date, but it is also the only country to have legalised same-sex marriage, and only the fifth in the world to have done so. 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The car he was travelling in was ambushed as he made his way to officiate an interfaith marriage — an act symbolic of his mission to build bridges in the face of hate. Mere months before that, the remains of Lazarus Ikaneng Thomas, a 50-year-old gay man from Galeshewe in Northern Cape, were found after he was mutilated in a targeted homophobic attack. It was reported that Thomas had been strangled and had acid poured all over his body. Thomas's death was not just a horrifying murder — it was a savage and deliberate act of hatred. It reflects the cruel, barbaric violence still directed at queer bodies in a country that claims to uphold human rights. South Africa is internationally revered for having the best Constitution in the world. It is oftentimes praised for its progressive legal framework: same-sex marriage is legal, discrimination based on sexual orientation is constitutionally prohibited, and LGBTIQ+ people are, on paper, fully protected citizens. Still, queer lives are targeted, violated, and taken — often without consequence. Violence against queer people persists not just because of hate, but because our systems allow it to happen without punishment, letting perpetrators walk free under the cover of institutional neglect. Pride Month is a time meant to honour resilience and demand justice for all, despite gender and sexual orientation. The brutal murders of Hendricks, Thomas, and so many other vulnerable victims' murders serve as a searing reminder of the gap between legal recognition and lived experience. Laws may exist, but they have little weight when queer people are afraid to walk home, afraid to love openly, or to simply exist in peace. The violence in our society is not random; it is enabled by societal apathy, cultural prejudice, and the failure of institutions that are meant to protect our people. Queer people in our society still face oppressions and unspeakable violences, to the point of being dangerously normalised. According to the Mamba Online, 622 queer people were murdered in the span of just three months. From hate crimes and violences such as corrective rape, to various forms of institutional biases, queer people grapple with challenges such as unemployment, gender pay parities, exclusion in leadership, and more, purely because of their sexual orientation. This, being imposed in a constitutional democratic society, is an absolute travesty. This Pride Month, South Africa must look inward. The problem is not a lack of solid legislation, it is the deep-rooted stigma that festers in families, in religious communities, in townships, in schools, and in our justice system. Police still mock victims of queerphobic violence, and even refuse to acknowledge them. The SAPS has, in the past, been severely criticised for its harsh, dismissive attitude towards homophobic crimes. 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Until queer lives are valued not just in law books but in everyday interactions, in homes, and in the hearts of our fellow citizens, our democracy remains incomplete. Pride means nothing if it leaves the most vulnerable among us behind. South Africa's youth — particularly during Youth Month — are uniquely positioned to be the driving force behind real change. Unburdened by some of the rigid prejudices of older generations, many young people are boldly challenging homophobia, transphobia, and the silence that surrounds queer issues in their communities. From student-led movements, to social media activism, the youth are demanding that queer rights be treated not as optional, but as essential to a just and inclusive society. They are reshaping cultural norms, holding institutions accountable, and creating spaces where queer identities are affirmed rather than erased. 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Until South Africa confronts the hatred that lives beyond its laws, Pride will remain a protest, not a celebration. * Tswelopele Makoe is a gender and social justice activist and editor at Global South Media Network. She is a researcher, columnist, and an Andrew W Mellon scholar at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, UWC. The views expressed are her own. ** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
