Funeral of Lusanda Mthabela draws govt attention to GBV crisis

Mpumalanga hosts a race against gender-based violence and femicide.

Representatives of the Mpumalanga government are among mourners at the funeral service of Lusanda Mathabela. The 19-year-old woman was stabbed allegedly by her ex-boyfriend and his friend.

The funeral service is underway in Kanyamazane outside Mbombela. She will be buried in Rocky’s Drift near White River.

The funeral service of 19-year-old Lusanda Mathabela who was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend and his friend in her home on Monday. On Friday the Bellas running club held an awareness run to take a stance against GBV and femicide in Mpumalanga#MorningLive #SABCNews

— SABCNews_MorningLive (@MorningLiveSABC) November 8, 2025

The stabbing incident happened at Mathabela’s home in Mattafin on Monday. Both suspects have been arrested.

George Mthetwa, the provincial government spokesperson, says data related to GBV is scattered.

“So, what we want to do now is to have a collected data that is research-based wherein we are able to respond based on the stats that we have. What are the causes? What could be driving these perpetrators to be commiting this kind of crime? So that the interventions that we are making are in response to the data that we would have researched. We are mobilizing communities to also participate. We have realized that is well and good for SAPS and all the structures of SAPS. We have realized that the perpetrators are hiding in our own households. So, that is why now we’re creating that awareness.”

Today we celebrate our sister and ANC NEC member Comrade Nonceba Mhlauli at her robing ceremony at the Methodist Church of South Africa. This moment is a powerful reminder that leadership is rooted in faith, humility, and service to the people. As she continues to serve both the… pic.twitter.com/DDrGIuMpt1

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) November 8, 2025