A 19-year-old female suspect is under police guard in a local hospital after allegedly murdering a mother and her son during a violent house robbery on Sunday, 25 August 2025 in Barberton. The incident was followed by an attempted mob justice attack on the suspect, which police were forced to intervene in.
The tragedy unfolded when police responded to a complaint of a house robbery where multiple family members had been shot. Upon arrival at the hospital, officers were directed by medical staff to three victims who had sustained gunshot wounds.
Tragically, a 43-year-old woman and her 24-year-old son succumbed to their injuries shortly after the police arrived. A third victim, identified as the family’s youngest daughter, remains hospitalized and is receiving medical treatment.
Following the incident, enraged community members located the alleged perpetrator and attacked her. Reports indicate the crowd attempted to set the suspect alight before police officers arrived on the scene to intervene. The suspect was rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the assault.
She now faces serious charges, including two counts of murder, attempted murder, and housebreaking. Police have confirmed that no arrests have been made in connection with the mob justice incident, and investigations into both matters are ongoing.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Information can be reported to Detective Captain Vusi Maphanga on 082 303 9704, the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111, or anonymously via the MYSAPS App. All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, expressed grave concern over the recent spike in mob justice incidents in the province.
“We are deeply concerned about the increasing number of such incidents reported in the past two days,” said Major General Mkhwanazi. He strongly urged community members to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to allow the police to perform their duties professionally and effectively.
