‘I accepted it was my last day’: Ekurhuleni mayoral hopeful’s terrifying night at gunpoint

Gun

Ekurhuleni – People’s Movement for Change (PMC) mayoral candidate Nhongo Solo has described how she feared for her life after armed men broke into her home in Geluksdal, Tsakane, and held her at gunpoint.

According to News24, Solo said the ordeal was so frightening that she eventually accepted she might not survive, telling the publication: “I accepted it was my last day.”

The attack happened on the night of 29 September, while Solo was at home with a friend.

SABC News reported that three men had allegedly been seen around the property before forcing their way inside and demanding Solo’s cellphone and banking details.

Solo and her friend were tied up, while the attackers allegedly fled with two cellphones, a laptop and bank cards, according to SABC News.

More details of the attack were reported by Africa Daily, which said the suspects were allegedly armed with 9mm pistols and forced Solo to unlock her cellphone and access her banking applications.

House robbery case

When she was unable to provide a banking PIN, one of the suspects allegedly hit her on the head with a firearm and slapped her.

Africa Daily, citing a police incident report, further reported that Solo later managed to free herself and attempted to grab one of the suspect’s firearms. One attacker allegedly pointed a gun at the back of her head and threatened to shoot her before his accomplice intervened.

The suspects allegedly locked Solo and her friend inside the house before fleeing. Solo subsequently opened a house robbery case at Tsakane police station.

The PMC believes the attack may have been politically motivated, given Solo’s position as its mayoral candidate ahead of the 4 November 2026 local government elections. However, the police incident report describes the matter as a house robbery and does not establish a political motive.

SABC News reported that the PMC has called on political parties and their supporters to uphold the Electoral Code of Conduct and allow candidates to campaign “without intimidation or violence.”

The incident comes as political parties intensify their campaigns ahead of the local government elections, with Ekurhuleni expected to be one of the closely contested metros.

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