In a heartbreaking turn of events, 72-year-old Gogo Francinah Mthombeni’s final prayer with her sister on the morning of January 6th became an eerie prelude to tragedy. As she set off for her home in Zonkezizwe, near Katlehong in Ekurhuleni, the elderly woman never could have anticipated that her journey would end in bloodshed. By early afternoon, a call from her sister, Makhetse Motloung, went unanswered, prompting growing concern.
Makhetse’s repeated attempts to reach Gogo Francinah went straight to voicemail, which was highly unusual for the normally attentive elder. Alarmed, Makhetse reached out to Gogo’s daughter, Mando Mthombeni, who also tried to contact her mother, but to no avail. The growing anxiety led Mando to send a neighbour’s child to check on her mother, and what they discovered was chilling—a horrific scene where Gogo Francinah lay lifeless in a pool of blood.
Upon arriving at the scene, it was clear that the elderly woman had put up a fierce struggle. Furniture had been overturned, and there were signs of a violent altercation, leading family members to believe that Gogo Francinah fought back against her attacker. Despite the brutality of the crime, the suspect remains at large, leaving the family to grieve and seek justice.
Mando Mthombeni, deeply shaken by the loss of her mother, vowed never to forgive the person responsible. “My mother was strong, and we hoped to spend many more years together,” she said, her voice filled with pain. Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that a murder investigation is underway, though no arrests have been made as of yet. The family now waits for justice as they cope with the tragic loss of a beloved matriarch.
