BOKSBURG – An 18-year-old girl was shot and killed by unknown armed suspects while walking along a street in Windmill Park, Boksburg, on Sunday, 14 June 2026.
The death of Nqobile Makhubo has left her family in Ekurhuleni seeking answers, as evidence suggests the attack involved both gunfire and physical strangulation.
The incident has sparked concern within the community due to the targeted nature of the violence and the apparent lack of a robbery motive, raising fresh questions about youth safety and the effectiveness of local policing in one of Gauteng’s densely populated townships.
Details of the Attack
The incident occurred on the afternoon of 14 June. Puleng Mngomezulu, Makhubo’s aunt, reported that she rushed to the scene after receiving a phone call notifying her that her niece had been shot.
Upon arrival, Mngomezulu found the teenager still alive, suffering from a gunshot wound to her right cheek.
“When I arrived, my niece was still alive. She had sustained a gunshot wound to her right cheek. I screamed for help and asked some of our relatives to assist me in putting her into the car,” Mngomezulu said.
Family members transported Makhubo to Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg. Despite medical intervention in the emergency ward, she died from her injuries.
“She was taken to the emergency ward, and the doctors did everything they could. Sadly, she later succumbed to her injuries,” Mngomezulu said.
Relatives described chaotic scenes outside the hospital as word of the shooting spread through Windmill Park, with neighbours gathering to support the family and calling for a visible response from local authorities.
Medical and Forensic Observations
During the emergency treatment, medical staff questioned the family regarding the circumstances of the shooting. Mngomezulu stated she could not provide specific details as she had only arrived after the attack had already occurred.
Medical professionals informed the family that the injuries were not limited to the gunshot wound.
“The doctor told us that my niece had gunshot wounds and what appeared to be strangulation marks on her neck,” Mngomezulu said.
The combination of suspected strangulation and gunshot injuries is expected to form a central part of the forensic analysis, which will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority should arrests be made under South Africa’s Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act and broader homicide provisions.
Investigation into Motive
The family has stated that there is no obvious reason for the attack. A primary indicator that the killing was not a robbery is that Makhubo’s personal belongings remained with her.
Portia, a family member, confirmed that the teenager’s phone was still in her pocket when the body was recovered.
“We don’t know why Nqobile was killed. Nothing was taken from her, and we found her cellphone still in her pocket. It remains a mystery to us why she was strangled and then shot,” Portia said.
Community members say the apparent absence of a robbery motive has fuelled speculation that the killing may have been targeted, deepening fears in an area already grappling with high levels of violent crime and gender-based violence. Local civic groups have previously appealed for stronger implementation of South Africa’s national strategy to combat gender-based violence and femicide, which places obligations on policing, social services and the criminal justice system.
Police Action
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has initiated a formal investigation into the killing. In such cases, SAPS typically focuses on forensic evidence from the scene, witness testimonies, and the analysis of the victim’s communications to identify suspects.
Police spokeswoman Captain Neldah Sekgobela confirmed the official status of the case.
“A case of murder has been registered at Dawn Park Police Station, and the matter is under investigation,” Sekgobela said.
Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the attack, or who has information about the movements of the suspects before or after the shooting, to come forward. The case will fall under the oversight of provincial SAPS structures, which are mandated to report serious violent crimes and femicide statistics into national policing and justice reviews, a process that has come under scrutiny amid persistent calls for more accountable and better-resourced policing.
For residents of Windmill Park and the broader Ekurhuleni area, the outcome of this investigation will be seen as a test of whether law-enforcement and the justice system can deliver accountability for a killing that has shocked a community and cut short the life of a young woman on an ordinary walk home.