A Hammarsdale Methodist preacher who survived a kidnapping and went on to identify her alleged abductors has now been gunned down in what her family fears was a targeted killing linked to the same case.
The brazen murder has left relatives too terrified to return to court to face the suspects she helped put behind bars.
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Lindiwe Dlamini (65) was shot 17 times earlier this month while travelling home from a Sunday church service in Shongweni with three other women.
Her family believes the killing may be linked to the kidnapping in which she was both the victim and a key witness.
A close relative said the family now fears they may also be on the killers’ list.
At a memorial service on Tuesday at the Mpumalanga Methodist Church in Hammarsdale, Dlamini was remembered as a devout woman of faith and respected community member who put her family and service to others above all else.
Neighbours, friends and former colleagues shared stories of her resilience, remembering her as a pillar of strength and unwavering compassion.
Dlamini retired from teaching in 2022 after more than four decades of service. Since then, she had dedicated most of her time to her church.
On the day of the shooting, Dlamini had attended a church service with family members.
The relative told The Witness that as they were driving back home, another vehicle overtook them and immediately stopped.
A gunman approached the passenger side, where Dlamini was seated, and opened fire.
She sustained severe injuries to her abdomen and was rushed to Hlengisizwe Clinic before being transferred to hospital, where she died.
The shooting follows her kidnapping late last year.
According to a relative, as she was getting ready to leave her home to attend a mid-week prayer service, two men arrived at her house in a vehicle pretending to be relatives and called out her clan names.
When she approached them, they allegedly dragged her inside, covered her face and demanded money. They took her bank cards and forced her into a second vehicle before driving off.
“A neighbour initially believed the men were known to her, but police were alerted when it became clear she had been abducted.”
The family tracked Dlamini’s bank notifications on her cellphone, and this helped police locate her at an abandoned house in Dassenhoek near Mariannhill.
During her two-day captivity, the kidnappers fed her while allegedly using her bank cards to make multiple transactions and access her investments, said the relative.
Despite suffering severe trauma and requiring heavy medication after the ordeal, Dlamini assisted police with the investigation and identified seven suspects, including an Uber driver, as none of them had concealed their faces.
They were arrested and have remained in custody without bail.
They are due back in court next month.
Dlamini’s death has devastated the family, which believes her murder may be linked to the kidnapping case.
She was the only one who was shot. The gunman went straight to her and fired repeatedly. We believe she was targeted.
“Our sister was a devout woman of God who loved her family and, after losing her only son and surviving the kidnapping, was trying to rebuild her life. Now she is gone,” said a relative, who asked not to be named.
Hammarsdale ward councillor Nkosinathi Bless Majola said the killing has heightened fear in the community and called on authorities to act urgently.
“She was kidnapped, robbed of her money and now she has been killed. Criminals are showing no mercy. We need justice and stronger policing to protect our community.
“We are calling on all our provincial leaders, including our Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, to help the community of Hammarsdale.
“Young people and the elderly alike are affected by the crime,” said Majola.
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KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that police were investigating a case of murder.
“Mrs Dlamini succumbed to her injuries after being shot on February 8,” he said.
