Man arrested in connection with Mossel Bay teen’s murder

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Police have made a breakthrough in the murder case of a Mossel Bay teen with the arrest of a 23-year-old man on Tuesday night.

Western Cape police confirmed that the suspect had been charged with the alleged murder of 19-year-old Nhamulo Sambo, who was stabbed to death in the Garden Route town during the early hours of May 31.

Police spokesperson Brig Novela Potelwa said the accused was traced to the KwaNonqaba area on Tuesday evening.

Story audio is generated using AI A grieving mother’s cry for justice pierced through rising tensions in Mossel Bay on Tuesday after her 19-year-old son was stabbed to death following unrest in the Garden Route town. Nhlamulo Sambo was killed in KwaNonqaba township during the early hours of Sunday amid chaos linked to protests reportedly targeting foreign nationals. His mother, Patricia, believes he was killed because some community members thought he was a foreigner. “My child is South African. He is Tsonga — from Limpopo,” she said. However, Western Cape police commissioner General Thembisile Patekile, who visited the family alongside other senior officers, said investigators did not at this point believe Sambo’s killing was driven by xenophobia. He confirmed that the police were on high alert after shacks were burnt down in the area. According to Sambo’s family, he was killed during riots allegedly linked to protests against foreign nationals. They said he was attacked and fatally stabbed in his shack by a mob who, according to a witness, allegedly thought he was an immigrant. Patekile, however, was confident that Sambo’s death was not connected to the recent unrest which had unfolded at about the same time. Patekile, who spent some time in Mossel Bay on Tuesday, said according to preliminary investigations, Sambo was allegedly stabbed to death by a shack owner after the youngster and a friend were reportedly caught stealing. ​“On May 31, at about 2am, the police were informed of the body of a [19-year-old] male with stab wounds to his side.” He said it was alleged the deceased and his 15-year-old friend had entered someone’s shack with the purpose of stealing. “They were [allegedly] accosted by the owner of the shack who arrived while they were still inside. “The owner of the shack chased them. “The 15-year-old hid under the bed while the deceased ran outside, where he was caught and allegedly stabbed to death.” Patekile said for this reason it was believed the incident was not related to the reported unrest on Friday night and Saturday morning. “We know who the suspect is,” he said. “All we have to do is find him. “The police are working around the clock looking for the suspect.” Patekile said two foreign nationals were killed in Mossel Bay at the weekend and that detectives had been assigned to investigate the two murder cases. The victims, aged 27 and 43, were both from Mozambique. The police had been called out to the area during the early hours of Saturday, where the body of a 27-year-old man was discovered with multiple injuries. Shortly thereafter a second man, who had also been assaulted, was discovered. The 43-year-old was declared dead on arrival at hospital. Patekile said an arson docket had also been opened in relation to the shack fires. Sambo’s mother, Patricia, said on the night of his death, he had asked his 15-year-old friend to sleep at his shack. “At about 3am on Sunday, the 15-year-old boy ran to my shack and reported that a mob had arrived there, demanding to know my son’s nationality. “The friend said Nhlamulo was scared and had tried to hide,” she said. “They [the alleged mob] asked Nhlamulo where he was from and then proceeded to attack him, stabbing him to death. “The boy said my son tried to explain that he was South African but no-one would listen. “He then tried to convince them to look at his ID.” The grieving mother said many Xitsonga-speaking people in the area were now afraid for their lives. Patekile confirmed this, saying 10 Xitsonga-speaking people who feared for their lives had since been moved to a safe space where 400 South Africans and foreign nationals who had been displaced were staying at present. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

A team of detectives had been hard at work, pursuing leads since the murder at the weekend.

Potelwa said the suspect will appear in the local magistrate’s court soon.

While the teenager’s death has been widely linked to the reported unrest between South Africans and foreign nationals in the Mossel Bay township, Western Cape police commissioner General Thembisile Patekile said it was believed Sambo and his 15-year-old friend had been caught stealing.

It is further alleged that the youngsters entered a shack, where they were caught by the shack owner. While the younger friend managed to hide, Sambo allegedly tried to run away but was caught and fatally stabbed in the chest.

Story audio is generated using AI Despite having been high on drugs, Gqeberha woman Anke-Mari Cilliers knew exactly what she was doing — and that it was wrong — as she took part in the brutal murder of her landlord. Cilliers, 37, became the second person to be jailed for the fatal assault of businessman Danie de Jager after pleading guilty in the Gqeberha high court on Tuesday and being sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison. On Monday, Leeroy Scholtz admitted to being the one who had repeatedly hit De Jager, 65, over the head with a hammer while he was asleep in his bed on the night of October 29 2025. For his role, Scholtz was sentenced to an effective 25 years in prison. With both Cilliers and Scholtz now behind bars, it is only De Jager’s partner, Estelle le Grange, who must still answer to her alleged crimes. Cilliers and Scholtz, 36, claimed Le Grange, 57, had been the mastermind. After murdering De Jager, they staged the scene at his Newton Park house to resemble a robbery. Le Grange had lived with De Jager in the main house, while Cilliers and Scholtz rented the flat. As per a plea agreement between the state and defence, Cilliers was sentenced to an effective 20 years’ imprisonment on charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, defeating or obstructing the administration of justice, and the contravention of the Older Persons Act. Representing Cilliers, advocate Jodene Coertzen read out her plea statement to the court. In the statement, Cilliers admitted that she was fully aware that what had taken place that fateful night was unlawful, and that she accepted responsibility for her actions despite her drug use at the time. “I knew that my conduct was wrong and that it was against the law. Though I had used crystal methamphetamine, I was able to appreciate the difference between right and wrong and act in accordance with that appreciation. “I therefore admit that I acted unlawfully and intentionally,” she said. Cilliers said once De Jager was dead, she had helped to stage a robbery at the house by pulling items from cupboards. Together with Scholtz, they then stole items including jewellery, a laptop, bank cards and De Jager’s Nissan Juke. They used his bank cards to withdraw R4,450. After abandoning the vehicle and disposing of some of the stolen items, they travelled to Summerstrand where they had booked accommodation. There, they showered, had something to eat, and then returned to the Newton Park residence, where they were ultimately arrested. Coertzen said Cilliers was a first-time offender. “She played a lesser role and acknowledged her role in acting in common purpose. [She] appreciates the part she played in the execution of these crimes.” Coertzen said Cilliers was not married and had no children. She started using drugs as a coping mechanism to treat her depression. She then became addicted. At the time of the incident, she was self-employed as an artist, making crafts that she would sell, and offered face painting at various children’s parties and festivals. Cilliers briefly addressed members of De Jager’s family seated in the public gallery. The brief interaction was emotional. Cilliers was then escorted from the courtroom. Le Grange is meanwhile due in court on Wednesday, June 10. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Two Mozambican nationals were also killed in the area at the weekend.

Sambo’s mother, Patricia, meanwhile believes her son was mistaken for a foreigner. The teen was Xitsonga-speaking, originally from Limpopo.

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