‘I was shocked… it was them’: Aunt recounts horror after finding murdered nieces

Mamelodi

Cape Town – Police have confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man in connection with the brutal killing of two young women whose bodies were discovered on Sompisi Street in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, on Sunday morning, 26 October 2025.

According to Eyewitness News, the women — identified as cousins Tshiamo Moramaga (22) and Baleseng Moramaga (21) — were found lying side by side with gunshot wounds to the head. Locals made the discovery around 6 a.m. and alerted police.

 Their aunt, Maggie Moramaga, said the discovery left the family shattered: “I was shocked when people came and told me to come quickly and identify children presumed to be related to us. When I got there, it was them.”

She added, “We want the law to run its course because we want justice for these children so we can know how or why they were killed, because we don’t know.”

As reported by TimesLIVE, Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said the victims were declared dead on the scene, and a case of double murder was opened. “A third person was also shot during the incident and is currently being treated in hospital,” he confirmed.

According to The Citizen, investigators from the Gauteng Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit, together with Provincial Crime Intelligence, arrested the suspect on Monday at a petrol station in Pretoria after tracing his movements. He is expected to appear in the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court later this week.

Following national outrage, the Aubrey Tau Foundation and Moja Love TV initially offered a R250 000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Founder Aubrey Tau said the foundation could not remain silent in the face of such violence:

“Extreme violence against women in South Africa has been on the rise. It cannot be that young women are murdered in the most brutal and senseless way.”

After the arrest, the foundation confirmed that the R250 000 would instead be donated to the victims’ families to assist with funeral and counselling costs. “With the swift response by SAPS, the Foundation will now donate the said amount, R250 000, towards the families,” Tau stated.

In a condolence message, City of Tshwane Deputy Executive Mayor Eugene Modise said the municipality was deeply pained by the tragedy, “Our hearts are deeply broken by the tragic loss of the two young women in Mamelodi. We share in your grief and pray that God gives you strength and comfort during this dark time.”

He continued,“Violence has no place in our communities. We call on law enforcement to work tirelessly to bring justice for these young lives and to ensure that no family ever suffers like this again.”

Meanwhile, social media users have flooded platforms with the hashtag #JusticeForTshiamoAndBaleseng, calling for harsher punishment for perpetrators of gender-based violence.

Police have urged anyone with additional information to come forward as investigations continue to determine the motive behind the killings.

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