On July 15, 2026, a gang ambush in Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga, left four friends dead and one injured.Alice Mahlangu, 19, and her friends Fanafana Ngobe, Remember Sedibe, and Xolani Mona were shot while at the gate of Mona’s house.Despite escaping the vehicle, all four were killed, with Ngobe succumbing after being chased.The incident has heightened fear in the community, with residents reporting 37 gun-related deaths since January.Local police and the Mkhuhlu Community Police Forum (CPF) face criticism for inaction, as no arrests have been made.Mpumalanga MEC Jackie Macie acknowledged the crisis, urging national intervention.The tragedy follows the killing of ANC ward secretary Shakatsa Metric Matjeke, further eroding trust in authorities.Families like Ngobe’s, who lost a relative in April, now face ongoing trauma, highlighting systemic failures in addressing gun violence.