KEY POINTS
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Sinenhlanhla Mathonsi, a 22-year-old cashier, was fatally stabbed by her boyfriend at Pick n Pay in Protea Glen Mall, Soweto, while on duty.
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The victim’s family demands access to surveillance footage from the store, questioning the lack of intervention during the attack.
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The suspect has been arrested, but the motive remains unclear as police investigations continue.
The family of 22-year-old Sinenhlanhla Mathonsi, who was tragically murdered at her workplace, Pick n Pay in Protea Glen Mall, Soweto, is demanding access to surveillance footage that they believe could provide crucial answers regarding her brutal death.
Sowetanlive reports Mathonsi was stabbed multiple times by her boyfriend while on duty late on the evening of Sunday, May 4, 2025.
Mathonsi’s guardian, Lungile Dlamini, expressed deep frustration over the circumstances of the crime, questioning why no one intervened during the attack. “How did this man stab our daughter multiple times?” she asked. “What was security or anyone at the store doing? Wasn’t her first scream enough call for help for someone to intervene? It means there is a gap in safety and security there because this is a place we said she was safe.”
Dlamini went on to stress that the family had not been made aware of any problems between Mathonsi and her partner prior to the attack. “She was a very secretive and quiet child. We didn’t know of the relationship. We knew her to be a bright child who had a good future ahead of her,” Dlamini continued. “She would have been 23 this month. She was even planning to go to university after her younger siblings in grades 9 and 11 finished school.”
Mathonsi, who had worked as a cashier for five months, was on duty when the fatal attack occurred at around 7:50 p.m. on May 4.
Johannesburg police spokesperson Lt-Col Mpho Tshetlhane confirmed that the suspect, aged 26, was arrested shortly after the incident. “The suspect allegedly arrived at Pick n Pay supermarket and stabbed the victim multiple times in the upper body,” Tshetlhane said. “The victim was certified dead at the scene, and the suspect was arrested. The motive behind the incident is not yet known, and police investigations are ongoing.”
Pick n Pay, in a statement, offered its condolences to the family and confirmed that they would cooperate fully with the police investigation. “Thankfully, no other staff member or customer was hurt, and we are offering counselling to all staff members for this tragic incident that should never happen anywhere in South Africa,” the company said. “We send our condolences to the staff member’s family.”
While the investigation continues, the Mathonsi family remains distressed, particularly over the lack of clarity regarding the store’s security response. Dlamini has called for greater accountability from both the supermarket chain and law enforcement. “We don’t know who to blame or ask for answers. We are still waiting to be shown footage of what happened,” Dlamini said.
The case has sparked wider concerns over safety measures in public spaces, especially in busy retail environments where such attacks can occur.
The family is determined to see justice served and to gain insight into the circumstances leading to Mathonsi’s untimely death.
Soweto murder reignites calls for action on South Africa’s gender-based violence epidemic
The killing has intensified scrutiny of GBV, which claims a woman’s life every three hours in South Africa, according to 2024 police data. Advocacy group Sonke Gender Justice criticized systemic failures, noting “security gaps in public spaces and delayed responses perpetuate this crisis.” Protea Glen Mall employees revealed past safety concerns, with one cashier anonymously stating, “We’ve reported suspicious activity before, but nothing changes.”
Pick n Pay said it is cooperating with police and offering staff counseling, calling the incident “a tragedy that should never occur anywhere.” However, the Mathonsi family insists transparency is critical. Community activists plan protests outside the mall this week, demanding improved security and accountability.
The case echoes recent GBV incidents, including the 2024 murder of UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana, which spurred nationwide anti-GBV protests. Political leaders have yet to comment, but the Commission for Gender Equality pledged to monitor the trial.
