A family’s return from Kempton Park ended in tragedy when their only son, Vusimuzi Radebe, was allegedly stopped by residents in Kwaguqa, Emalahleni and beaten to death after being questioned about his past address, CapeTownEtc reported.
What happened
According to the report, Radebe was walking from his grandmother’s home towards Lynville on Saturday, 19 September when residents approached him and asked where he lived and where he had come from. His family told CapeTownEtc that he explained he had previously lived in Kempton Park before returning to Emalahleni about a month earlier with his parents, who had retired.
Family members believe that the mention of Kempton Park may have prompted suspicion that he was linked to recent killings in Ekurhuleni. Radebe did not survive the alleged attack.
“We are hurt that he died like that while he is innocent, over something he did not do,” said Nonhlanhla Mathobela, a family member, according to CapeTownEtc.
The family described Radebe as quiet and said he was simply making his way home when confronted. He was the only son of Sipho and Perfidia Radebe; his mother grew up in Kwaguqa and his father is from Lynville. The family had lived in Kempton Park since the early 1990s before moving back to Emalahleni following the parents’ retirement about a month before the killing.
Context: fears across Ekurhuleni
The alleged killing took place amid heightened fear in Ekurhuleni after the discovery of several bodies. CapeTownEtc reported that police have found the bodies of nine women in Ekurhuleni over the past two months, including a ninth body discovered in Dawn Park on 17 September. That discovery prompted increased police resources and a multidisciplinary investigation, the report said.
Local residents in towns and townships across the metro have been on edge as investigations continue. The Radebe family say their son became the object of suspicion merely because he had once lived in Kempton Park, and they continue to demand answers.
- Victim: Vusimuzi Radebe
- Location of incident: Kwaguqa, Emalahleni (walking towards Lynville)
- Date of incident: Saturday, 19 September (reported by CapeTownEtc)
- Context: Occurred amid investigations into multiple killings in Ekurhuleni (nine bodies reported)
Local consequences and questions
The killing raises several issues for Kempton Park residents and those with family across Ekurhuleni. One is the spread of suspicion across municipal boundaries: a former address in Kempton Park was reportedly enough to cast doubt on Radebe’s character. Another is the danger of communities taking alleged investigations into their own hands when fear and frustration are high.
The family’s account, as reported, emphasises their disbelief and grief. They say Radebe was innocent of the crimes linked to the wider police investigation and that they cannot understand how he was identified as a suspect. The details of any forensic or police findings in relation to the Radebe killing were not included in the CapeTownEtc report.
| Item | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Last residence before moving back | Kempton Park |
| Where incident occurred | Kwaguqa, Emalahleni |
| Date of incident | 19 September (reported) |
| Bodies found in Ekurhuleni | Nine (over two months, reported) |
At the time of publication, CapeTownEtc’s account was the primary source for these facts. Local residents in Kempton Park who have family or ties in Emalahleni will be watching for official statements from the SAPS or the Ekurhuleni metro about the investigation, including whether any arrests have been made or whether any formal link to the wider killings has been established.
The Radebe family’s grief and the suggestion that a past Kempton Park address might have inspired a fatal confrontation underline how rumours and fear can have deadly consequences. Authorities have previously warned communities not to take the law into their own hands while investigations are under way; this incident will likely put renewed pressure on policing and community leaders across both Ekurhuleni and the wider Gauteng region to prevent vigilante violence.
Kempton Park residents with concerns or information relevant to the wider Ekurhuleni investigations should contact their nearest police station so the matter can be addressed through lawful channels.
