Sambo family alleges police statement on teen’s death was fabricated

The family of slain 18-year-old, Nhlamulo Sambo, has rejected the police version that he was killed during a robbery incident gone wrong in Mossel Bay.

The family insists that the teenager, who was killed on Sunday, was targeted because he was Tsonga-speaking and from Limpopo.

His mother believes his 15-year-old friend, who was with him at the time, was not attacked because he is Xhosa-speaking.

Mossel Bay has experienced a wave of anti-illegal immigrant protests since last week.

Police claim that Sambo and the 15-year-old boy were allegedly found inside a shack during a suspected robbery and were confronted by the property owner.

The deceased teenager’s mother, Nkateko Sambo, says police relied on what she believes is a fabricated statement.

“My child was killed like a dog. They killed my child, just because he is a Tsonga from Limpopo, is what I can tell you.  I’m sure about that because that boy is a Xhosa, and they didn’t kill that boy; that’s why I’m sure about that.  They kicked the door, I see the mark of maybe size 9 or 10, so a boot, that they opened the door and got inside.”

“They were sleeping together, then they took my boy to outside, because they never want to do something inside that pose. Because people will be suspicious about why that boy never been injured, that’s why they took my boy out.  So as a mother of Nhlamulo, I am very hurt and I’m angry about the wrong statement they give about my son. The other thing, I want justice for my child.”

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, says a 23-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with Sambo’s murder.

Patekile, however, maintains that the two teenagers were found inside a shack during an alleged burglary.

“What we have and now with what we followed up, the deceased, the 18-year-old, was with another 15-year-old. They were in a shack.”

“They were found in a shack, allegedly by the person who was in charge of the shack or the owner of the shack at about three o’clock in the morning. And then the suspect that has not been arrested now pursued the deceased, and apparently, he was stabbed, and the 15-year-old hid himself under the bed. That’s where we got the information that they were there and allegedly breaking into or taking some stuff that was not theirs in the house.”

#sapsWC [POLICE MAKE BREAKTHROUGH IN THE MURDER INVESTIGATION OF NHLAMULO SAMBO KILLED IN KWANONQABA]#SAPS makes breakthrough in the murder investigation of teenager killed in Kwanonqaba

Investigations into the murder of an 18-year-old in KwaNonqaba on Sunday morning, 31 May… pic.twitter.com/qfJJR716OI

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 3, 2026

Civic organisation, March and March, have denied any involvement in the brutal killing of Sambo.

Founder, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, conveyed her condolences to the affected families and called for calm as tensions continue in the area.