A dramatic scene unfolded on September 29 in Johannesburg when a 26-year-old woman, Boitumelo Mazibuko, was brutally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend, Siyabonga Msimanga, a 45-year-old taxi driver. Sibusio Ngcobo, secretary-general of informal traders at the Bree Taxi Rank, risked his life to save Mazibuko, intervening just as Msimanga allegedly tried to slit her throat. Ngcobo initially thought Mazibuko had fallen and needed help, but as he approached, he realized she was fighting for her life.
Ngcobo described the horrific scene, saying Msimanga repeatedly stabbed Mazibuko while she was lying on the floor. The attacker stabbed her in the back of the neck and between her breasts, and Ngcobo shouted at him to stop, but Msimanga continued. Mazibuko managed to get up and run, but Msimanga chased her, caught up with her, and threw her to the ground again. Ngcobo then rushed towards the attacker and kicked him in the head as he attempted to slit Mazibuko's throat.
The attack occurred just a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV) following several gruesome discoveries of women's bodies in Ekurhuleni. Ramaphosa urged men to lead by example and help the fight against GBV. Ngcobo's heroic actions were praised by many, but he said several taxi drivers warned him that he had interfered with a dangerous man and that he should look after himself.
According to Ngcobo, many people witnessed the attack but were too afraid to physically intervene because Msimanga is a well-known taxi driver with a reputation for violence. Ngcobo said Mazibuko pleaded desperately for her life during the attack, saying she was tired and that Msimanga must stop as she did not have the strength. Despite the danger, Ngcobo said he couldn't fold his arms and watch a woman being killed.
Mazibuko has been discharged from ICU but faces a long recovery after losing sensation in her left leg. Her mother, Lebohang Zikode, said doctors believe a stab wound near her spine may have damaged a nerve. Zikode expressed deep gratitude to Ngcobo for saving her daughter, saying the attack would have ended in murder had Ngcobo not intervened.
In a shocking twist, Zikode alleged that Msimanga contacted her after the attack, admitting he had stabbed Boitumelo and asking for forgiveness. He offered R20,000 and said his family from KZN would apologize on his behalf. Zikode said no amount of money can equal the life of her child and expressed shock that Msimanga thinks money can solve something like this.
Police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said a case of attempted murder is being investigated, and Msimanga was arrested and appeared before the Johannesburg magistrate's court on October 2, 2026. Ngcobo's bravery has been hailed as a heroic act, and his actions serve as a testament to the power of human compassion and intervention in the face of violence.
Key points
- Siyabonga Msimanga, the 45-year-old taxi driver, was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
- Boitumelo Mazibuko, 26, is recovering in hospital after losing sensation in her left leg due to a stab wound near her spine.
- Sibusio Ngcobo, the informal trader who intervened, was warned by taxi drivers that he had interfered with a dangerous man.
