Johannesburg – A 20-year-old gender-based violence (GBV) activist and artist, Xabiso Kambi, was tragically shot dead on New Year's Eve in Tsakane, East Rand, after bravely fighting back against armed robbers and allegedly unmasking one of her attackers. Her family believes the attack was targeted and carried out by individuals known to her.
Xabiso was killed between 20:00 and 21:00, shortly after leaving her mother’s bottle store. Her father, Xhanti Kambi, revealed to News24 that video footage in his possession showed his daughter's courageous resistance during the incident.
According to Mr. Kambi, the footage shows Xabiso leaving the bottle store and heading towards her car parked outside. A white Nissan Almera then reversed towards her. "She opened her car door, and as she was about to get inside, one of the robbers pushed her into the vehicle and pinned her down. The other one grabbed the money bag and ran back to the Nissan Almera," he explained.
In a display of incredible bravery, Xabiso managed to overpower the attacker who was restraining her. "My daughter fought back and managed to remove the balaclava from his face. The second robber had already run back to the car," Kambi stated. Xabiso then pursued the second suspect for a few metres before he "turned around, pulled out a gun and fired two shots at my princess, killing her instantly," Kambi recounted. The suspects then fled the scene in their vehicle.
The family suspects that Xabiso's killers were known to her and were from the local area. "The fact that they covered their faces tells me they are from around here and were known to my daughter. Brazen criminals don’t usually cover their faces when they are not known in the community," Mr. Kambi asserted.
Adding to the family's distress, Mr. Kambi criticised the slow response from the police. He told News24 that investigators only collected the crucial CCTV footage five days after the murder, and only after he had contacted them to make them aware of its existence. "The investigation is moving very slowly," Kambi lamented. "I want justice for my daughter. I am willing to use all my resources to help the police. I believe this footage will lead to the arrest of her killers."
Xabiso was a prominent figure in Tsakane, known for her activism against GBV. Last year, she led a youth march against a man arrested for GBV-related crimes, demonstrating her commitment to fighting violence against women. "She preached peace and stood firmly against gender-based violence. I feel like I failed my daughter by not being there when she was attacked. They should have killed me and spared my child," her grieving father expressed.
Acting Ekurhuleni Mayor Jongizizwe Dlabathi, along with his entourage, visited the family to offer condolences and the municipality’s support. Dlabathi described Xabiso’s killing as "yet another devastating example of GBV."
"The family must not feel alone during this difficult time. This tragedy calls for a collective effort by the community to bring the killers to book," Dlabathi stated. "We cannot continue going from home to home offering condolences. This must be the last incident. We are not campaigning for elections, as some might suggest. This is the fourth family we have visited since the start of the festive season. We are a caring municipality that is against crime and the murder of women and children."
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that they were investigating a murder case, and that no arrests had been made. "It is believed that four suspects were involved in the robbery. Police investigations are under way to trace and locate the suspects," she stated, adding that the victim was shot while chasing the suspects who had robbed her of an undisclosed amount of money.
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