The family of a young PhD graduate, who was shot outside a primary school in Grange, Pietermaritzburg, on Monday morning, believe he passed away while protecting his sister.
Wandile Mkhize (30), from Imbali, had been transporting his sister to the school where she works, along with her two young children, when he was shot by an unidentified gunman, who then fled in a vehicle.
A family member, who asked to remain unnamed, said the attack occurred as Mkhize’s sister was unloading bags from the boot of the car outside the school premises.
“An unknown man walked past and started shooting at him,” the family member said.
Mkhize had recently received his PhD results in a medicine-related field and was due to graduate next month.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of violent incidents affecting the family.
In January 2019, Mkhize’s sister’s husband was shot dead outside their home in Imbali Unit 13.
“In February 2019, she started receiving threatening phone calls demanding money,” said the family member.
In August 2022, she held an unveiling ceremony for her husband, and in December 2022, unknown gunmen fired shots at her house while standing at the gate.
The threats and attacks continued.
“She kept receiving phone calls until July 2024. She moved back home. Then, in November 2024, attackers fired shots at the family home.”
“In January 2025, someone called my sister, demanding money they claimed was invested in a scheme through a company where her late husband had been an agent.
“She told them to contact the company in Dundee, as she had no knowledge of the matter.
“In February 2025, gunmen returned and fired more shots at the house. We went to the police three weeks ago to follow up, only to find that some cases had been closed without our knowledge.”
They said they had repeatedly pleaded with SAPS to patrol the area but had received no assistance.
“We have never seen a single police van. We want to know what we did wrong. We are living in fear.”
The family believes Mkhize was killed while trying to protect his sister.
He used to take her to work and fetch her every day. We didn’t receive any feedback from the police on these incidents, and now he has been murdered. We don’t know why he was killed.
Describing Mkhize, the family said he was a quiet person with big dreams.
“Studying was his priority. He loved being with his family. We don’t feel safe at all,” they said.
Msunduzi ward 19 councillor Vusi Ngwenya said the incident had left the community in shock.
Grange councillor Sinothi Nkabini said it was especially concerning that the shooting happened in front of young children outside the primary school.
uMgungundlovu SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Sifiso Gwala confirmed that a murder case had been opened for investigation.
“No one has been arrested yet. The motive is unknown,” he said.
