Cape Town – Western Cape police have dismissed claims that a 19-year-old Limpopo teenager who was killed in Mossel Bay was targeted during anti-immigration protests, saying preliminary investigations point to a different motive.
Nhlamulo Sambo, originally from Giyani in Limpopo, was stabbed to death in KwaNonqaba, Mossel Bay, on 31 May.
According to IOL, initial reports and claims by family members suggested that Sambo had been attacked because he spoke Xitsonga during protests reportedly linked to anti-immigration sentiment in the area.
His sister, Nonhlanhla Sambo, alleged that he was killed after being removed from a friend’s house.
“My 19-year-old little brother was stabbed to death on May 31 during xenophobic riots and protests in Mossel Bay, Western Cape. His only fault was being Tsonga in a Xhosa community. We, as a family, are deeply hurt by this inhumane act. Justice must be served. We will not be silent,” she wrote on Facebook.
Sambo’s mother, Nkateko Sambo, echoed those claims, saying her son had been mistaken for a foreign national.
“They killed my son like a dog, saying that he was a foreigner, whereas my child is Tsonga, a South African citizen from Giyani in Limpopo,” she said in a video shared on social media.
However, Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile said investigators had uncovered evidence suggesting the incident was not linked to xenophobic violence or anti-immigration protests.
This report from SAPS doesn’t align with what Nhlamulo’s mother said on that video. A lot is going on regarding this story. Anyway, may his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/BmiqDTLFVI
— ツ Lord Ori (@Lord_Ori_) June 2, 2026
According to Patekile, a 15-year-old who was allegedly with Sambo at the time of the incident told police that the pair had entered a shack with the intention of taking goods.
“A 15-year-old who was with the deceased, and who apparently hid inside the shack, said they entered the shack with the intention of taking some goods. They were then accosted by the owner of the shack upon his arrival. The owner subsequently chased the deceased and stabbed him to death,” Patekile said.
The police commissioner said investigations are continuing as detectives work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a further development, SABC News reported that police have arrested a 23-year-old suspect in connection with Sambo’s death.
Police spokesperson Novela Potela confirmed the arrest and said the suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: Facebook/ Nonhlanhla Sambo
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
