Activist Thato Molosankwe Killed in Mahikeng, South Africa

Why this is here: Molosankwe opened a gym for the Mahikeng community, charging only R50 per day or R250 per month to cover maintenance costs.

The family of Thato Molosankwe report his death after he was shot at his home in Lomanyaneng, South Africa, on Wednesday morning. Police in North West province are investigating the murder with their murder and robbery unit. Leviticus Molosankwe, his brother, says the community filled the streets with grief when news spread, requiring police intervention.

The family believes the killing was planned. They state the attackers monitored Molosankwe’s movements before shooting him as he returned from an outside restroom near his fast-food business. Molosankwe previously walked 1,317 kilometers from Cape Town to Mahikeng in 2017 to raise awareness about women and child abuse through his #FatherSonMentorshipWalk campaign.

Leviticus also mentioned his brother occasionally posted cryptic messages on social media about being a “dead man,” suggesting Molosankwe anticipated danger while advocating against social issues. The family remembers Molosankwe’s dedication to improving his community and reinvesting earnings into their family home. The investigation is ongoing, and a motive remains unclear.