Mpumalanga Councillor Allegedly Shoots At Father Mourning His Daughter’s Death

A 34-year-old councillor from Pienaar, Dumsane Christopher Gonrover Masilela, appeared briefly in the Kanyamazane Periodical Court on Monday facing two counts of attempted murder. His case was postponed to Tuesday for the continuation of his bail application.

Masilela was arrested last week after allegedly opening fire during a confrontation linked to the death of a 16-year-old girl.

Teen’s Death Sparks Tense Confrontation

According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the incident began on Thursday when a Pienaar father noticed his teenage daughter was unusually distressed and crying frequently.

After confronting her, she reportedly informed him that a boy from her school had been abusing her.

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The concerned father drove with his daughter to the alleged perpetrator’s home, but the boy was not there. He then returned home with her.

Tragically, later that day the father found his daughter had died by suicide. He cut the rope she had used to hang herself and rushed her to a nearby clinic, where she was declared dead.

Councillor Allegedly Opens Fire During Family Dispute

Hours later, at around 7.30pm, while the father was at home, he heard noises in the sitting room. Upon investigating, he found relatives of his late wife inside the house, confronting him for not informing them of the girl’s death. An argument erupted.

Ndubane said the Ward 29 councillor — known to the family as a friend of the girl’s maternal relatives — then allegedly intervened, drew a firearm, and opened fire.

“The councillor is said to have fired a shot, grazing the father as well as a neighbour who tried to stop the fight,” Ndubane said.

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Both victims were taken to hospital for treatment.

Police opened two cases of attempted murder, and Masilela was arrested shortly thereafter.

Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi welcomed the swift arrest and criticised the councillor’s actions, saying he should have worked to defuse the situation rather than escalate tensions.

The matter remains under investigation.

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