Three years after his mother was shot and killed while taking her grandchildren to school, Sibu Mpanza has spoken out about his grief and the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence in South Africa. Mpanza had joined Women For Change's Run For Her Women's Day initiative, but his mother's tragic death on August 3, 2023, left him reeling. His mother was killed in Philippi, Cape Town, and police have yet to make any arrests in connection with the killing.
Mpanza's mother was one of the women remembered by Women For Change on their purple memorial posts on Instagram. The organisation uses purple imagery to raise awareness and demand action against GBV and femicide. For Mpanza, seeing his mother's face on the memorial posts was devastating, as it brought her death into the public eye. Mpanza had previously spoken about his fear that his mother would die a traumatic death, which became a reality.
The fear of his mother's death was partly connected to his father's passing, but also to the harsh reality faced by many women in South Africa. Mpanza had sought therapy to cope with this fear, but it ultimately became his reality. His mother's death left him and his family grieving, with many unanswered questions. Mpanza is now speaking out as nine women have been found dead in different parts of Ekurhuleni, including Kempton Park.
The recent discovery of the nine women's bodies has sparked fear, anger, and a major police investigation into possible links between the deaths. Police have established a multidisciplinary team to investigate the cases, but have not confirmed if all nine deaths are connected or if a serial killer is responsible. Mpanza finds the headlines difficult to watch, knowing the pain and grief that follows a woman's death.
Mpanza broke down in tears thinking about an eight-year-old child who has lost her mother, Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old runner from Kempton Park. He cried for the child's pain and the possibility that she may never see justice for her mother's death. Mpanza's own age at the time of his mother's death helped him understand the harsh realities, but he believes an eight-year-old should not have to experience this.
Mpanza's experience has shown him how difficult it can be for families seeking answers after a loved one's death. He recalled making repeated calls to the police station responsible for his mother's case, only to realise that he needed to move on with his life. However, moving on did not mean forgetting; it meant learning to live with the unanswered questions and the empty space left by his mother.
The recent deaths have made Mpanza reflect on how ordinary activities can become dangerous for women. He notes that women cannot go for a run, take their kids to school, or even get an Uber without fearing for their lives. Mpanza's mother was killed while taking her grandchildren to school, and Moselakgomo had disappeared while out running before her body was found.
Key points
- Sibu Mpanza's mother was shot and killed in Philippi, Cape Town, while taking her grandchildren to school on August 3, 2023.
- Nine women have been found dead in different parts of Ekurhuleni, including Kempton Park, sparking a major police investigation.
- Mpanza is speaking out against GBV, having lost his mother to violence and seeing the ongoing struggle against it in South Africa.
