The peaceful suburb of Mattafin in Nelspruit has been shattered by a crime of brutal violence, leading to the arrest of two 18-year-old suspects for the murder of 19-year-old Lusanda Mathabela. The accused, Katlego Mokoena and Lungelo Sithole, made their first appearance in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, their youthful faces belying the gravity of the charges against them: murder and housebreaking.
The tragedy unfolded on the afternoon of November 3, 2025, in what began as a report of a residential burglary. However, the situation quickly escalated into a homicide investigation. According to police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, upon arrival, officers discovered that members of the Public Order Policing (POP) Unit were already on the scene. Inside the house, they made a grisly discovery: the body of young Lusanda lying in a pool of blood, bearing multiple stab wounds. Emergency Medical Services were called, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations have pieced together a harrowing sequence of events. It is alleged that Mokoena and Sithole gained access to the property by jumping over the perimeter wall. The house was undergoing construction at the time, which may have provided some cover for their entry. Once inside, they were confronted by Lusanda, who was alone in the home. In a desperate attempt to thwart the invasion or call for help, she screamed. It was at this moment, investigators believe, that one of the suspects allegedly attacked her, stabbing her multiple times.
The commotion did not go unnoticed. Construction workers labouring nearby heard the screams and immediately contacted the homeowner—Lusanda’s father. In a frantic race against time, her father rushed home. En route, in a twist of fate that would lead to the swift apprehension of the suspects, he encountered the patrolling POP unit. After he explained the terrifying situation, the officers responded instantly.
“The swift action of the construction workers in alerting the father, and the immediate response of the POP unit, was crucial in this case,” stated Brigadier Mohlala. The suspects were cornered on the premises and arrested without further incident.
A deeply personal and troubling layer was added to the case as it emerged that one of the accused, Katlego Mokoena, was allegedly a former male friend of the victim. This connection has opened a line of inquiry for investigators, who are now probing the motive behind the break-in and whether the young woman was specifically targeted.
The court appearance was sombre, with the two teenagers remanded in custody. The case has been postponed to November 12, 2025, for a formal bail application. In a poignant and tragic detail that underscores the shattered futures involved, it was revealed that one of the suspects, Lungelo Sithole, is a Grade 12 learner. He is scheduled to write a crucial National Senior Certificate examination on Wednesday, November 6, 2025, which he will now do under the supervision of correctional services while in custody.
As Lusanda’s family and friends grapple with an unimaginable loss, the community of Mattafin is left reeling, a stark reminder that violence can invade even the most tranquil of settings, leaving behind a trail of grief and forever-altered lives.
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