Mamelodi East Reels After Double Murder: Suspect Arrested as Community Demands Action
Mamelodi East Reels After Double Murder: Suspect Arrested as Community Demands Action
Natalie Nyathi
The community of Mamelodi East, in Pretoria, is in mourning following the brutal murder of two young women on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Tshiamo Moramaga, 22, and her cousin Baleseng Moramaga, 21, were found with gunshot wounds to the head in Sompisi Street, Extension 17. A 38-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the killings and is also facing a charge of attempted murder for allegedly shooting a third victim who is currently hospitalized.
The tragic discovery was made early Sunday morning, leaving the community in shock. According to reports, the cousins were last seen the previous night after spending time with family and visiting a local tavern. Witnesses reported hearing arguments and gunshots in the vicinity before the women’s bodies were discovered.
Gauteng Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed the arrest, stating that a joint team of detectives apprehended the suspect at a filling station in Pretoria on Monday. The suspect is expected to appear before the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, October 29.
The victims’ family is devastated by the senseless act of violence. Itumeleng Moramaga, Tshiamo’s mother, expressed her heartbreak, saying, “I’m so hurt. I’m shattered because she was the only daughter I had.” She recounted that her daughter had visited her just the day before the tragedy. Maggie Moramaga, the aunt of the teenagers, shared that the cousins had spent the evening with her, and she never imagined it would be the last time she saw them.
The Aubrey Tau Foundation has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murders. Founder Aubrey Tau condemned the killings as “brutal and senseless.”
This incident has fueled concerns about the high levels of crime and violence in Mamelodi East. The civic movement Soil of Africa is demanding an increased law enforcement presence in the area, calling the murders part of a growing epidemic of gender-based violence. They are urging the police to deploy tactical response teams, crime intelligence, and GBV units to Mamelodi East and to conduct inspections of taverns and shebeens.
