They were two women who had every reason to live. Instead died together on Saturday in a hail of bullets in Polokwane, where they were looking at business premises to build on their success.
Now Tebogo “Ted” Mphuti, 35, and Makoena Leshabane, 46, have left behind only grief and questions for their families, who are trying to make sense of what could be behind the attack on the two successful women.
Just weeks ago, they were still together celebrating a friend’s birthday, the photos taken on that day showing two women happy and enjoying life.
Yet, early on Saturday, their bullet-ridden bodies lay outside the car they were travelling in, killed in what police described as a hit-style shooting.
Both families expressed shock over how the women were killed.
Their families have described them as women who truly cherished their families.
Leshabane was a chartered accountant at Investec, while her friend Mphuti was in property management and construction.
Leshabane’s family spokesperson Mmakgabo Ramotshela described her as a loving wife and mother.
“Makoena’s love for her family, friends and especially for her husband and children was immense,” Ramotshela told Sunday Times Daily.
According to Ramotshela, Leshabane is survived by her husband, five children, parents, two brothers and her sister.
A spokesperson for Mphuti’s family, Thabo Makhema, described Mphuti as the pillar of the family. “The love Tebogo had for her family and children knew no bounds,” Makhema said.
A family friend who spoke to Sunday Times Daily on condition of anonymity described Mphuti as a hardworking young woman.
“She was really doing well in life, and we really hope police will get to the bottom of what really happened to both our friends.”
Mphuti is survived by two daughters aged 8 and 11, her husband and mother.
Police said they were still searching for four men suspected of the shooting.
“Three suspects, two armed with firearms, accosted the two women seated in their motor vehicle and started shooting at them, killing them instantly,” said police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo.
Their vehicle was “riddled with numerous bullet holes”, paramedics said.
The trio then ran to a getaway car — a red Hyundai with Gauteng registration plates — where a fourth man was waiting.
Mojapelo told Sunday Times Daily that no arrests had been made and that the manhunt and investigations were still ongoing.
According to ER24, the shooting took place outside a warehouse on Zune Road at about 10.30am. When paramedics arrived, the two women were lying in the car.
“Medics assessed the women and found that one had sustained numerous gunshot wounds while the second had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. Both showed no signs of life. Unfortunately, nothing could be done for them, and they were declared dead,” ER24 said.
SowetanLIVE reported earlier Mphuti had been living in fear after an attempted car hijacking in Midrand two months ago after being followed by an unknown vehicle.
Her lawyer, who asked not to be identified for safety reasons, said he suspected the killing was a “hit” because Mphuti was shot several times, while her friend was shot once in the upper body.
“She called me and said she was nearly hijacked, but I didn’t pay attention to details. I had advised her to call the police. Since the incident happened she became anxious and was no longer interested in driving herself around,” said the lawyer.
Mphuti’s mother, Mpho Mathabathe, confirmed to the publication that her daughter asked her to take care of the children as she was travelling to Polokwane on Friday with a friend and would be returning on the Saturday.
Mathabathe said Mphuti and Mabusela-Leshabane were close friends who did property business together.
