A tragic incident unfolded at Protea Glen Mall in Soweto on May 4, 2025, when 23-year-old Snenhlanhla Mathosi, an employee at Pick n Pay, was fatally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend while at work.
Authorities swiftly apprehended the suspect before he could flee the scene. The shocking crime has ignited widespread outrage, with calls for justice trending on social media.
According to reports, the suspect arrived at the Pick n Pay supermarket around 8:50 p.m. and stabbed Mathosi multiple times in the upper body while she was on duty. The Johannesburg police confirmed that the 26-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene and will soon appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court.
Mgcini Tshwaku, the MMC for Public Safety, visited both the crime scene and the Protea Glen Police Station to assess the situation. While reports suggest the weapon may have been purchased at a nearby Shoprite, this detail remains unconfirmed.
Mathosi’s family is demanding access to surveillance footage from the store, questioning security measures, and why no one intervened sooner. Her guardian, Lungile Dlamini, expressed deep sorrow, stating that Mathosi was a bright young woman with a promising future, who had planned to pursue university studies after her younger siblings completed school.
Pick n Pay has assured that they are cooperating with authorities and providing counseling to staff members affected by the tragedy.
