A pregnant woman who was due to give birth next month was gunned down inside her home in Imbali Unit 2 in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday night after an armed intruder allegedly forced his way into the house and opened fire.

The Witness reports that Thembeka Nene (34) was shot at about 21:00 during what is alleged to have been a home invasion. An 18-year-old relative was also shot and taken to hospital.

A family member, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said the suspect is believed to have jumped over the perimeter wall before smashing open a sliding door to gain entry.

“He came straight inside,” the family member said. “The teenager, who was watching television, ran to her aunt’s room.”

The suspect allegedly ordered the occupants to come out of the bedroom. When Nene offered him money and household items, he allegedly refused. “He said he wanted them out of the bedroom.”

Nene was shot and collapsed in front of her bedroom door. She was declared dead at the scene.

The teenager was shot while trying to phone the police and was rushed to hospital.

Another relative survived by hiding under a blanket in a separate room. “If he had seen that there was also another person inside, he would have shot the survivor as well,” the family member said.

The family said they are still traumatised by the killing and are collecting spent bullets while cleaning the house.

“How do you kill a pregnant woman like this?

“She was always at home. We don’t know what she did to deserve this,” the family said.

The murder has revived earlier trauma for the family. In November 2022, a male relative was shot seven times just outside the gate, with no arrests made to date.

Ward councillor Vusi Ngwenya said the killing had left residents shaken. “This was criminality without conscience. Nothing was taken,” Ngwenya said. “People are living in fear. We appeal to police to find the person responsible.”

uMgungundlovu district SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Sifiso Gwala confirmed that a case of murder and attempted murder has been opened.

Nene was found lying in front of her room in a pool of blood.

An unknown suspect forced entry, shot both victims and fled on foot,” Gwala said.

“Nothing was taken and the motive is unknown. Police investigations are continuing,” he added.

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