After a domestic argument in eMalahleni, two sisters were set on fire both later died from their injuries. The case has sparked national outrage over gender-based violence.
 |
| Sisters burned in eMalahleni attack later died from their injuries. |
What began as a domestic dispute has ended in horror. Two young women sisters have died after being doused in petrol and set alight in what has been described as a horrific act of gender-based violence.
The Attack
The incident occurred on 23 July 2025, in Vosman, a township in eMalahleni. The alleged perpetrator, a 35-year-old man, is accused of locking his 21-year-old girlfriend, Nompumelelo Gumede, and her 23-year-old sister, Antoinette Hill, in a room, pouring petrol on them, and setting them on fire. The attack reportedly followed an argument between the suspect and Gumede, the mother of his child.
Hill, who was visiting at the time, had tried to intervene in the dispute when she too became a victim of the violence.
Both women sustained severe burns and were rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite emergency care and efforts to save their lives, both succumbed to their injuries days later.
The Arrest and Legal Proceedings
The suspect was arrested later that day and appeared in the eMalahleni Magistrate’s Court on charges of two counts of murder. His formal bail hearing is scheduled for 7 August 2025. Community members and women’s rights organizations have voiced outrage and are demanding that bail be denied and that the harshest possible sentence be imposed.
Public Outrage and Call for Action
The incident has sent shockwaves across South Africa, a country already facing a staggering crisis of gender-based violence (GBV). Civil society groups, GBV activists, and concerned citizens gathered outside the courtroom, chanting for justice and calling attention to the systemic failure to protect women.
“We’re tired of burying our sisters,” said one activist at the courthouse protest. “We need action not just words.”
Law enforcement officials have also condemned the act. Mpumalanga police leadership promised full cooperation with prosecutors and emphasized the need for community support in identifying and stopping domestic abuse before it escalates to tragedy.
A Familiar Horror
This is not an isolated incident. According to official crime statistics, South Africa sees thousands of women and girls assaulted, raped, or killed each year, often by someone they know or live with. The eMalahleni case serves as a devastating reminder that women are most at risk in their own homes.
The Women Behind the Headlines
Nompumelelo Gumede was described by friends as “gentle and family-oriented,” while Antoinette Hill, her older sister, was known for her protective nature a trait that tragically led her to her death.
“They didn’t deserve to die like this,” said a relative. “They were young, full of life, and had dreams that were stolen in the most brutal way.”
As the nation mourns, this case underscores an urgent question South Africa continues to face: When will women be safe in their own homes? Justice for Nompumelelo and Antoinette must not end in a single court ruling it must fuel broader change, from stronger legal protections to widespread education and intervention strategies.
You may also be interested in:
Six Family Members, Including Toddler, Killed in Tragic R42 Crash
Fleurhof Mother Arrested for Son’s Murder, Community Demands Justice
Tragic Discovery at Mathafeni: Murder and Possible sexual assault of Young Girl Sparks Outrage
0 Comments