Family Suspects Foul Play in Tragic Death of City Press Journalist Nompumelelo Magagula
Eight months after the South African media industry mourned the sudden passing of vibrant City Press journalist Nompumelelo “Mpumeh” Magagula, her family has broken their silence, alleging foul play and demanding a thorough police investigation into her death.
Magagula’s mother, Thembi Mthimunye, recently revealed chilling details surrounding the day her daughter died. Speaking to Inkwekwezi FM, Mthimunye claimed that Magagula, 30, was brought home dead by her boyfriend in her own car—a stark contrast to initial reports suggesting she passed away following a short illness.
Mthimunye recalled the heartbreaking events of that fateful Sunday with immense grief.
“What pains me till today is the fact that on the day of her alleged passing away, the boyfriend called me and informed me that he was driving with Mpumeh and that she was coming to surprise me,” Mthimunye said tearfully.
“I never thought much about why the boyfriend was the one informing me about the surprise since they were driving together. The surprise I received on that day was my dead daughter.”
According to Mthimunye, she was told that Magagula passed away while the couple was driving from Johannesburg to visit her in KwaMhlanga.
Driven by suspicion, the family took the drastic step of exhuming Magagula’s body just three days after her burial so that the KwaMhlanga SAPS could conduct fresh forensic tests. However, Mthimunye claims the police failed to follow through.
“I remember very well that when we went to the police station, they told us they had done the tests and that they were in Pretoria, but we must bury my child and the results would be sent to the family,” she said. “I’m still waiting for those results.”
The family’s doubts are further fueled by physical evidence they witnessed before the burial.
“If Mpumeh died a natural death, then why was she bleeding from her mouth and nose, even on the day of her burial? The blood kept coming out,” Mthimunye questioned.
The grieving family is now appealing directly to the Mpumalanga and Gauteng SAPS to intervene and investigate the boyfriend’s potential involvement.
“We suspect that she was murdered. There was no way she died a natural death when I spoke to her on that Sunday,” Mthimunye pleaded.
“I’m begging SAPS to help us find closure. If there was a hand in her death, someone must account. This is our plea as her family.”
Before her tragic passing, Magagula was a highly respected senior entertainment journalist celebrated for her professionalism and commitment to mentoring younger colleagues.
She began her career as a content producer and on-air presenter for Kangala Community Radio Service (KCRS) before moving to Emalahleni FM as an isiNdebele newsreader. She joined the City Press newsroom as an intern in 2018 and rose through the ranks to become a permanent Senior Entertainment Reporter by June 2023.
Her aunt, Maureen Mphatsi, previously described Magagula as the pillar and primary breadwinner of their household. She is survived by her mother, her three younger siblings, and her five-year-old daughter, Melokuhle.
SAPS in Mpumalanga was contacted and the promised to reverts as soon as they have all the details regarding Mpumeh’s death.
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