Sphamandla Mabonga, a well-known businessman with ties to celebrity Londie London, was killed during an armed confrontation at Solo restaurant. The incident, which unfolded late on Tuesday evening, escalated into a lethal exchange of gunfire between Mabonga’s bodyguards and restaurant security personnel, leaving the local community in disbelief.
According to reports by News24, the evening began with an argument at the entrance of the trendy dining establishment as Mabonga attempted to enter the venue armed. Witnesses described a chaotic scene that quickly spiralled into violence, resulting in a shootout that claimed the lives of two of Mabonga’s bodyguards and left several others, including patrons and a security guard, injured.
The incident is not Mabonga’s first brush with violence; he was linked to a shooting at Tempo Luxury Restaurant back in January 2024, where multiple individuals were wounded amid a similar outburst. Police reports have since resurfaced detailing how Mabonga and several associates allegedly tried to forcibly enter the Tempo establishment, resulting in a confrontation with security personnel.
On the night of the Solo restaurant shooting, police officers were called to the scene following complaints about a disturbance. Upon arrival, they encountered Mabonga at the entrance and witnessed him relinquishing his firearm to one of the eight bodyguards. Tensions flared further when a security guard from the restaurant emerged, urging Mabonga to de-escalate. Instead, the situation rapidly deteriorated as Mabonga erupted in verbal abuse, attempting to break towards the guard, prompting his bodyguards to intervene.
As the exchange escalated, gunfire erupted. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple shots ring out, forcing police officers to seek cover behind their vehicles. The initial aftermath saw four individuals, including Mabonga, on the ground with severe injuries. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, but tragically, Mabonga was pronounced dead upon arrival at Morningside Clinic.
The police report details the chaotic moments following the initial gunfire. Officers described the scene as chaotic, noting that a bodyguard had re-entered the restaurant after retrieving something from his vehicle, leading to subsequent rounds of shooting within the venue. The investigation is ongoing, and police continue to piece together the sequence of events as they assess the wider implications of Mabonga’s connections and previous incidents of violence at local establishments.