MOSSEL BAY – The mother of 18-year-old Nhlamulo Sambo says her son was killed because he was Tsonga and has rejected the police account of what happened that night.
“They killed my son just because my son is a Tsonga,” says Mkateko Sambo.
Police found Nhlamulo’s body in the New Rest informal settlement around 3am on May 31. He had one stab wound to the chest. A 23-year-old suspect remains in custody.
The killing comes amid growing migration tensions in parts of South Africa, including recent unrest in Mossel Bay.
Mother says Nhlamulo Sambo was targeted for being Tsonga
Mkateko Sambo does not believe her son was stealing. She says the killers left his friend alive because that friend speaks Xhosa.
“It’s a fake story,” she tells eNCA. “All they are saying about my son is wrong. The people who came into the shack took my son and went to kill him. They left his friend, who is Xhosa-speaking.”
At the mortuary, she says workers told her where the knife went in.
“Where they stabbed my child, I heard, when I was in the mortuary yesterday, they told me they stabbed my child here at this side of the heart, which means they knew that they were killing my son.”
She adds: “And when they killed my son, I heard that he was explaining that he was Tsonga and had an ID. So, I don’t know why they killed my son.”
Police maintain Nhlamulo Sambo died during alleged burglary
Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile gives a different account. He says Nhlamulo and a 15-year-old boy were inside a shack at 3am.
“They were found in a shack, allegedly by the person who was in charge of the shack at about three o’clock in the morning,” Patekile explains. “The suspect pursued the deceased, and apparently he was stabbed, and the 15-year-old hid himself under the bed.”
Police insist the murder is not linked to anti-migrant protests or xenophobic unrest in the area.
NatJoints says Nhlamulo Sambo murder not linked to unrest
National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure chairperson Tebello Mosikili also says Nhlamulo’s death has no connection to recent unrest.
“23 year old was arrested yesterday afternoon and remains in police custody,” she says. “The speed with which the investigators have acted demonstrates the commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of violence will be brought before the courts of law.”
She adds: “We urge the public to refrain from speculation and spreading misinformation.”
Family disputes police account of Nhlamulo Sambo’s final hours
Nhlamulo’s uncle calls the police statement “cooked”. He questions the station commander.
“The station commander never read anything from the paper. He just speaks it from above,” the uncle tells eNCA.
Mkateko Sambo says a woman came to her home and told her to come see her son’s blood. Nhlamulo went to that woman’s shack after the stabbing to ask for help. He gave her his phone so she could call his mother before he died.
The 15-year-old boy who was with Nhlamulo later spoke to the family. He says he hid behind a door while Nhlamulo hid near a cupboard. The family says this version does not match what police are recording.
Tribalism and migration tensions under scrutiny
This killing did not happen in isolation. Mossel Bay has seen weeks of anti-immigration protests under the Abahambe movement, spearheaded by March and March. Two men died during violent unrest targeting foreign nationals in KwaNonqaba on May 29 and 30. Several wood and iron structures were set alight.
Mossel Bay executive mayor Dirk Kotzé condemned the violence and called for calm.
“Violence and intimidation have no place in our communities,” says Mayor Kotzé. “Let us remain calm, respect one another, and protect the lives and livelihoods of all. It is important to remember that not all foreign nationals are in the country illegally. Let us seek solutions without destruction.”
Meanwhile, Ghana has started repatriating its citizens from South Africa following recent attacks.
President Ramaphosa addresses the issue directly. “We must never give in to violence, xenophobia or vigilantism,” Ramaphosa says in his Presidency Budget Vote 2026 address to Parliament.
“As a society, we must stand against all forms of disinformation, incitement, racism and ethnic mobilisation. We will strengthen and enforce our laws, while upholding the Constitution and the human dignity of all. This will enable us to deal with illegal immigration without turning against one another.”
Nhlamulo Sambo’s mother demands justice
Mkateko Sambo remains firm. She says her son died for one reason.
“My child was killed like a dog. I’m sure about that because that boy is a Xhosa, and they didn’t kill that boy.”
She describes the attack: “They kicked the door. They took my boy outside. They never want to do something inside that pose because people will be suspicious about why that boy never got injured.”
She ends with a clear message: “I am very hurt and I’m angry about the wrong statement they give about my son. I want justice for my child.”
The arrested suspect will appear in the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s Court once formally charged. Police say investigations continue.
