By Zinhle Cele | Missing Person South Africa
📍 Maphephetheni, Inanda – KwaZulu-Natal
A Young Life Lost Too Soon
Seventeen-year-old Athabile Khanyi, a Grade 11 learner from Makhapha Combined School in Maphephetheni, Inanda, tragically passed away after allegedly being abducted and assaulted by known individuals working in the local taxi industry. The incident, which occurred earlier in June, has left her family devastated and the community in shock.
According to her family, Athabile consumed a large number of pills after returning home and sharing the traumatic details of her experience. She passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Dkt Pixley Ka-Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital in KwaMashu.
“She Told Us, But No One Believed Her”
Her older sister, Ntombifikile Mthembu, shared painful details about the events leading to Athabile’s death.
“She was abducted on June 6 while standing alone at a taxi stop,” Mthembu explained. She was returned home on Monday, June 9. When she arrived, she told us who took her and what they did to her, but no one believed her. We thought she was making it up.”
Feeling unheard and unsupported, Athabile left home and went to her maternal grandmother’s house nearby, where she wrote a detailed letter recounting everything that had happened to her, including the names of her alleged attackers. Shortly after writing the letter, she ingested a dangerous amount of pills.
Her mother later found her in distress, but still alive.
“She was in pain, vomiting, and clearly traumatized. She kept repeating what happened,” her sister said. “We rushed her to the local clinic, where they found blood in her urine. She was transferred to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, then later to Dkt Pixley Ka-Isaka Seme Memorial, where she passed away.”
Allegations Point to Local Taxi Workers
In her letter and final words, Athabile allegedly identified two men — both said to be linked to the local taxi rank in Maphephetheni. One reportedly works as a taxi marshal, the other as a rank assistant. The family says that these same individuals allegedly drugged and took turns assaulting her.
One of the men was reportedly seen by Athabile at the hospital, which caused her visible distress. Despite naming her attackers and the family presenting this evidence to authorities, no arrests have yet been made.
“Why Are the Suspects Still Free?”
The family is struggling not only with the loss of their daughter but with what they feel is police inaction.
“We feel completely failed by the justice system,” said Mthembu. “The suspects are continuing with their lives like nothing happened. We gave names, gave the letter, gave everything — and the police have done nothing. They say they are still investigating.”
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Civic Leaders Demand Accountability
Nokuthula Cele, chairperson of the Civil Society Forum for Women and Children’s Rights in eThekwini, has strongly condemned the incident and the ongoing trend of unresolved gender-based violence cases in the area.
“This is not the first time we have heard such stories from Maphephetheni. Our community is under siege. We need justice, not just words,” said Cele.
She also expressed concern about traditional healers allegedly helping accused individuals by providing them with “protective” remedies to avoid prosecution.
“We’re calling on government and law enforcement to act. Too many cases fade without consequence. We’re losing our children.”
Protest and Community Action
In response to Athabile’s death, community members — especially school learners — are planning a peaceful march. The march will begin at the local sports ground, pass through the taxi rank where the suspects allegedly work, and end at the Inanda Police Station, where a formal list of grievances will be submitted.
A Broader Call for Safety and Awareness
This heartbreaking incident has reignited urgent conversations around gender-based violence, mental health, and the importance of believing victims.
Too often, young girls and women are left unprotected, unheard, and unsupported after speaking out. Athabile’s story is a painful reminder of the real-life consequences of silence and disbelief.
What We Can Learn and Do
Let this not be just another tragic story — let it be a turning point.
📌 Here’s what you can do:
- Believe victims — especially when they are young.
- Create safe spaces in homes and schools where children feel heard.
- Report suspicions immediately to trusted adults or local authorities.
- Speak to children about personal safety and trusting their instincts.
- Monitor your community and challenge harmful norms that protect abusers.
Have You Experienced or Witnessed Something Similar?
We invite you to share your thoughts, stories, or messages of support in the comments. How do you think our communities can do better to protect young girls?
🕯️ Rest in power, Athabile. You deserved to be believed. You deserved to be protected.
📢 Report any useful information or suspicious behavior to your nearest police station.
📌 Use this link to report a missing person
📩 For media or case-related queries, contact Zinhle Cele at ✉️ zinhle.cele@missingpersonsa.co.za or WhatsApp
🟡 Published by Missing Person South Africa
#JusticeForAthabile #SayNoToGBV #MissingPersonSA #ProtectOurChildren #InandaNews
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