JOHANNESBURG. A gunman opened fire on Divine Lunga’s vehicle in Hillbrow on Sunday, narrowly missing the Zimbabwean international footballer as he traveled through one of Johannesburg’s most crime-affected inner-city districts.
Lunga, 31, was driving to church with his younger brother when an unknown assailant shot at his car, according to South African police. The defender, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa’s top division and has earned 21 caps for Zimbabwe’s national team, the Warriors, escaped without injury. Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, a police spokesperson, confirmed that investigators are treating the incident as attempted murder. No suspects have been apprehended.
The Citizen, a South African news outlet, reported that the gunman apparently mistook Lunga for an undercover police officer before opening fire. Sibeko declined to release further details about the circumstances or the shooter’s identity, leaving the specifics of the investigation limited.
Hillbrow, where the attack occurred, has long been associated with elevated crime rates. South Africa consistently ranks among countries with the highest homicide rates globally, and shootings in major urban centers remain a persistent reality.
By contrast, Lunga’s professional trajectory has been one of steady achievement. He joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2021 and has since contributed to four South African league championships. Most recently, in May, he helped the club secure their second African Champions League title. He was also included in Zimbabwe’s squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign.
Neither Mamelodi Sundowns nor Zimbabwe’s football association issued a formal statement following the shooting. The Warriors did, however, post an image of Lunga in a prayer position on social media, captioned “In God we trust” alongside his name (a quiet acknowledgment, given the silence from official channels).
Police investigations are ongoing. The gunman remains unidentified and at large.
For further reporting on developments across the African continent, see https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1my1rvy28do. Additional coverage is available through BBC Africa’s social media channels, including Twitter at @BBCAfrica, Facebook at BBC Africa, and Instagram at bbcafrica.
Whether authorities can identify and locate the shooter will test a system already under strain from the sheer volume of violent crime across South Africa’s urban centers.