Nonhlanhla Masiya, a 21-year-old street vendor at Chris Hani Mall in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, was tragically killed by a stray bullet on June 15 while selling snacks and cold drinks at the taxi rank.
The shooting, aimed at a taxi driver, occurred in a bustling area filled with taxi drivers, passengers, and vendors.
Eyewitness Takale Mawuse recounted the chaos: “When the gunmen opened fire, everyone scattered.They targeted the taxi driver, shooting him several times as he fled towards where Nonhlanhla was seated. Unfortunately, she was caught in the crossfire.”
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Nonhlanhla, originally from Maputo, Mozambique, supported her daughter who lives with her parents back home through her sales.
The vendors at the taxi rank, including Takale, are now raising funds to transport her body back to Maputo. They aim to collect R10,000 and have raised R1,200 so far, showing her picture and asking for donations.
Her elder brother, Carlos Maluleke, expressed his grief, recalling their conversation earlier that day when she was happy.
Her boyfriend, Michael Masina, was heartbroken, stating, “She loved her job and was eager to sell her products. When I arrived at the scene, it was too late; the emergency officials said nothing could be done.”
Ekurhuleni police spokeswoman Captain Neldah Sekgobela confirmed the incident, stating that both the taxi driver and Nonhlanhla were declared dead by paramedics, with several cartridges found at the scene. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
