A year has passed since Lusanda Hope Mathabela was brutally murdered. But for her father, Given Mathabela, the pain of losing his daughter remains as raw as ever.
Tuesday, November 3, marked 365 days since the 19-year-old’s life was cut short. It was a year filled with grief, unanswered questions and an emptiness that no words could capture.
Lusanda was stabbed to death during a house break-in at her home in Mataffin, Mbombela, on November 3, 2025.
Remembering his daughter on the anniversary of her death, Mathabela shared an emotional tribute. He reflected on the devastating loss and the memories that continue to live with the family.
“The pain feels as fresh as the day we received the devastating news. The memories remain vivid, the wounds remain open, and the emptiness she left behind is something words can never fully describe,” he said.
He spoke of the little things the family now misses. Her smile. Her voice. Her presence. The light she brought into their lives.
For a father who has had to learn to live without his daughter, the passing of 12 months has brought little comfort.
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“Lusanda, your life mattered. Your dreams mattered. Your story matters,” he said.
Mathabela vowed that his daughter’s memory would live on through the Lusanda Hope Mathabela Foundation. He said the family would continue speaking her name and fighting for justice.
The anniversary also served as a painful reminder that their fight was far from over.
“One year later, we are still grieving. We are still hurting. But we will never stop fighting for justice and for a world where no other family has to endure this pain,” he said.
Two accused, Katlego Mokoena and Lungelo Sithole, face charges in connection with Lusanda’s murder. Their trial is scheduled to take place in the Mbombela High Court from May 17 to 28, 2027.
For her family, the court proceedings are only part of a much bigger struggle. They are also trying to preserve the memory of a young woman whose future was stolen.
As the family marked a year without her, her father’s final words carried the weight of a love that death could not erase.
“Rest in eternal peace, my daughter.”
