The Family of the killed pharmacist Nomzilla Madinane says she was threatened before being killed.
The 27-year-old Nomzila Madinane was brutally murdered in her pharmacy in Hillcrest, south of Durban.
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She had recently opened a new pharmacy, and the pharmacy was welcomed by several residents living close to it.
But sadly, Nomzila died in her pharmacy along with her cashier, Melisa Sibanda and security guard on Tuesday, 19 May.
It is alleged that unknown suspects stormed the pharmacy in broad daylight and opened fire.
Madidane and the cashier died at the scene while the security guard died in hospital.
Speaking on behalf of the family, a relative who asked not to be named said apart from being traumatized, they are deeply hurt.
“It’s even worse because we went to clean the blood ourselves after the incident,” he said.
He said the family suspects Nomzila’s ex-boyfriend as there has been alleged threats from him.
“He felt entitled to the pharmacy. We told him that we would pay him, he refused to take the money, and he kept insisting that the pharmacy should be closed,” he said.
He said at another pharmacy that Nomzila owned, there was a robbery earlier this year, there was money stolen as well, but that case ended up being dismissed.
“She got protection order, went as far as getting personal bodyguards. At some point she even asked to change cars with her sister because she feared for her life as her ex-boyfriend threatened her,” he said.
The relative said their relationship was on and off, therefore it wouldn’t be easy to know how long they were together.
A resident Phumlani Mkhize said the pharmacy was still new and they were happy to have it.
“Now the owner has been killed, I don’t think we’ll ever have it again. Most residents are sad, Madinane didn’t have to be killed like a thief,” he said.
Another resident, Thandeka Dlamini, said it was the closest pharmacy, and she was able to get her mother’s medication there.
“Now we have to travel far to get medication. I’m not sure when it was opened but recently. And she was still young she didn’t deserve to be killed in such a brutal manner,” she said.
The KZN cops spokesman, Colonel Netshiunda, confirmed that Inchanga police opened three cases of murder following an incident in which two women and a security were shot by unknown people.
“The two victims were fatally shot while the security guard sustained a gunshot wound and was taken hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.”
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“It reported that on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, the victims were at the pharmacy when they were ambushed by unknown people who opened fire on them. The motive is unknown,” he said.
Nomzila’s funeral will be held on Sunday, 24 May.
