BOPHELONG – Despite surviving an attempted assassination that left him with fourteen bullet wounds, Thabiso Maphike stands firm in his commitment to fighting for his community.
The esteemed community leader was attacked last month, sustaining severe injuries as he lay in a pool of blood.
In an exclusive interview, the 52-year-old recounted the harrowing ordeal that unfolded at the business hub on the day that forever altered his life.
Maphike was at his family home in Bophelong, nursing a fractured tibia with his leg elevated on a couch when he described the incident.
“I had just arrived at my office at the business hub when two assailants entered and ordered us, including my colleague, to lie on the ground. As I was complying, one of the attackers shot me in the stomach, and all I could see was blood splattering everywhere. The next thing I remember is feeling several bullets piercing my body,” he recounted.
Maphike expressed gratitude to his colleague, who, despite being on the floor when the shooting began, managed to evade the gunfire and pull him to safety.
“If it weren’t for him, I might not have survived. I sustained four gunshot wounds to my stomach, two in my left leg, and one that fractured my bone. The remaining bullets lodged in my thighs,” he explained.
Reflecting on the motive behind the attack, the community activist and entrepreneur asserted that he harbors no regrets for standing up for what he believes is right.
“No number of bullets can deter me from advocating for my community. Perhaps if the assailants had succeeded in killing me, the story would be different. I don’t consider anyone my enemy; my shooting is linked to our recent call to remove foreign nationals from our community. If given the chance, I would continue to lead community-building efforts without hesitation,” he affirmed.
Maphike revealed that he finds solace in knowing that the residents of Bophelong are benefiting from the township’s economic growth.
“I receive calls from residents who share their success stories of starting businesses and providing for their families. Witnessing this brings me immense joy. While some may oppose our movement, we will persist as long as it serves our community and fosters generational wealth,” he concluded.
