Missing Shoprite Employee Found Dead in Durban Flat

Durban, KZN — ZamaNguni Gumede was more than just another missing person. She was a mother. A sister. A colleague. And now, she’s a devastating statistic — found dead in a Durban flat a month after her disappearance.

Her family is shattered. Her children are left without parents. And a community is asking: how did this happen, and who failed her?

Who Was ZamaNguni Gumede?

ZamaNguni Gumede, known affectionately as “Zama,” was a 33-year-old employee at Shoprite, well-known among her colleagues and loved in her community in Hammarsdale. Described as quiet, hard-working, and deeply devoted to her two children — a 12-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter — she lived her life with purpose and humility.

Just last year, Zama lost the father of her children. Since then, she had been raising her little ones alone, juggling work and home life with strength and grace.

“Her children were her whole world. She worked hard so they wouldn’t go to bed hungry,” a relative told KZN Daily.

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What Happened?

On Sunday, 15 June 2025, Zamanguni Gumede returned home from church in Georgedale, Hammarsdale. After receiving a phone call, she told her family she was going to meet someone. That was the last time they saw her alive.

Panic set in after she didn’t return. Days turned into weeks, and still no word. The family searched everywhere — asking neighbours, checking hospitals, handing out flyers — all while facing what they describe as indifference from the local police.

“We went to the police. They didn’t even give us a case number. They told us to go look for her ourselves,” said a close relative

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Tragic Discovery

On Friday, 25 July 2025, Zama’s family received the call they had been dreading. Her body was found in a flat on Field Street, in the heart of Durban Central. She had been taken to Phoenix Mortuary.

The family says she had been dead for some time, and no one had contacted them. No case number, no proper investigation — just silence.

Children Left Behind

Zama’s two children are now left orphaned. The father of the children passed away in 2024, and Zama was all they had. Now, they are living with relatives who are trying to hold the family together through grief and shock.

“How do you tell a five-year-old that mommy’s not coming back? How do you explain that the people who were supposed to help didn’t even try?” said a family friend.

A System That Fails the Vulnerable

The Gumede family is demanding a full investigation — not just into Zama’s death, but into how her disappearance was handled, and why police allegedly failed to act when time mattered most.

They believe had police traced her phone records, checked her bank statements, or followed up leads early, Zama might still be alive.

“Women go missing every week in this country. And no one listens until it’s too late,” said a community activist in Hammarsdale.

What You Can Learn: Stay Safe, Stay Aware

Zama’s death is a painful reminder of how dangerous the world can be, especially for women. Here are safety tips every South African should know:

• Always share your live location when meeting someone — even if it feels unnecessary.
• Never meet strangers alone — and if you must, choose public spaces.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, cancel.
• Keep your loved ones informed about your movements — always.
• Demand a case number immediately if someone goes missing. Don’t back down.

Help Us Demand Justice

ZamaNguni’s story is not just news — it’s a wake-up call. Her children deserve justice. Her life mattered.

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