Man Gunned Down in Front of Wife, Kids

A man of Mkhitsini in the Shiselweni region was gunned down in front of his wife and children on Sunday evening.

Sibusiso Vilakati (39), popularly known as Msholozi, was shot dead while watching television at his home between 7pm and 8pm. Reports suggest that the killers arrived unnoticed, approached the sitting room window and fired three bullets into the back of his head, killing him instantly.

Family members inside the house heard the thundering gunfire but did not immediately realise what had happened. Moments later, they discovered Vilakati slumped on the sofa, his body lying in a pool of blood.

Shocked relatives and neighbours rushed to the scene, but the attackers had already vanished. Witnesses claimed to have seen a white sedan, believed to be carrying South African registration plates, speeding away with its headlights switched off.

Police attempted to block exit points along the Nhlangano–Manzini road, but the vehicle had already escaped. Residents described the car as moving “like lightning”, making it impossible to intercept.

There are strong suspicions that the attack was carried out by hired assassins, locally referred to as tinkhabi. These killers are known for striking with precision and disappearing without trace, leaving communities bewildered. Sources believe the gunmen were familiar with the area and had studied Vilakati’s movements before executing their plan.

This was not the first attempt on Vilakati’s life. He had previously survived a shooting in Durban, where he spent time in hospital recovering from gunshot wounds. Tragically, two of his brothers were also killed in Durban in separate attacks, making him the third member of the family to die in this manner.

While the motive remains unclear, suspicions range from jealousy to unresolved disputes or business dealings. Some residents believe the same group that attacked him in Durban may have followed him home to finish what they started.

Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the murder incident, stating that investigations were ongoing and no arrests had been made at the time of reporting.

Moreover, sources claimed that Vilakati appeared to sense that his life was in danger. They said on Sunday, just hours before the killing, he attended church and asked fellow worshippers to pray for him, saying he was “earmarked for death.”

The congregation was left devastated when news spread later that evening that Vilakati had been gunned down at his home in Mkhitsini.

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“He went to church yesterday where he mentioned that he was earmarked for death and requested to be prayed for. He seemed to be sensing that this was going to happen. The church leader and all the members couldn’t believe it when they got the news that he was gunned down hours later,” said a source.

Vilakati was remembered by many as kind-hearted and sociable. He is survived by his two wives and children.

“He finished paying lobola for his first wife and was now building a home for the second,” added a source close to the matter.