Bystander Kicks Attacker in Head to Save Woman Being Stabbed Near Bree Taxi Rank
- A bystander named Ngcobo physically stepped in to stop a man from slitting a woman's throat near the Bree Taxi Rank in Johannesburg
- Suspect Siyabonga Msimanga, 45, was allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Boitumelo Mazibuko, as she lay on the ground pleading for her life
- Mazibuko's mother revealed that Msimanga later contacted her, admitting to the attack and offering R20,000 as an apology
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: UGC
JOHANNESBURG — A bystander intervened on 29 September 2026 to stop a potentially fatal knife attack near the Bree Taxi Rank after witnessing a man repeatedly stab a woman who lay on the ground begging for her life. The incident occurred as the country reeled from the death of a woman in Limpopo who was fatally stabbed in the same month.
According to TimesLIVE, the incident occurred when Ngcobo, identified only by his surname, noticed suspect Siyabonga Msimanga, 45, attempting to kill his ex-girlfriend, Boitumelo Mazibuko. Ngcobo kicked Msimanga in the head, disrupting the attack. Msimanga then turned on Ngcobo, chasing him with the knife before fleeing the scene.
Witnesses held back by fear
Other onlookers at the scene shouted at Msimanga to stop but did not physically intervene, reportedly deterred by his violent reputation. The following day, local taxi drivers cautioned Ngcobo that he had stepped in against a known dangerous individual.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Mazibuko's mother, Lebohang Zikode, credited Ngcobo with saving her daughter's life. Mazibuko was hospitalised following the attack, initially admitted to the ICU before being moved to a general ward. She sustained a stab wound to the spine that caused nerve damage and a loss of sensation in her left leg.
Msimanga offered R20,000 after attack
Zikode stated that Msimanga subsequently contacted her, acknowledging that he had carried out the stabbing and offering R20,000 as a form of apology. She rejected the offer. Msimanga was arrested and appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on 2 October on a charge of attempted murder.
View a Facebook post about the incident here:
Man confronts alleged phone thief in Klerksdorp
In a related article, Briefly News reported on a Johannesburg visitor who confronted an alleged cellphone thief after pedestrians spotted him boarding a taxi in Klerksdorp’s CBD.
Footage shows the victim stopping the minibus and pulling the suspect out before another passenger returned the phone. The incident sparked debate over crime and citizen justice in South Africa.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
