In 2023, Londie London was captured in a video presenting her ex-lover, Sphamandla Mabonga, with a birthday gift while holding a very big firearm.
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) March 7, 2025
Sphamandla was reportedly shot and killed in Sandton last night. pic.twitter.com/H0pnHLsVhy
- Businessman Sphamandla Mabonga and two bodyguards died in a Sandton restaurant shootout over bringing guns inside.
- Police found four guns at the restaurant called Solo, including two AK47 rifles, but no arrests have been made yet.
A well-known businessman and two of his bodyguards died in a shooting at Solo restaurant in Sandton after an argument about bringing guns inside.
Sphamandla Mabonga was killed after he tried to enter the restaurant with his eight bodyguards on Thursday night. The shooting also left four people hurt, including two customers, a security guard and a Community Policing Forum (CPF) member.
Police went to Solo after getting calls about someone trying to force their way in. When officers arrived, they spoke to Mabonga who agreed to give his gun to one of his bodyguards.
But things turned ugly when Mabonga got into a shouting match with a security guard. “He was trying to run towards the security guard, and his bodyguards were trying to stop him. All of a sudden, there was a lot of gunfire,” a police report said.
After the first round of shooting, one bodyguard went back to his car, grabbed something, and ran into the restaurant. More gunshots followed, and he was later found dead inside.
Mabonga was rushed to Morningside Clinic but died on arrival. Two innocent customers were also shot and taken to hospital, along with a CPF member who was hit in the leg and stomach while trying to help.
Police found four guns at the scene – two AK47 rifles and two handguns. No arrests have been made yet.
This wasn’t Mabonga’s first run-in with trouble at Sandton restaurants. He was arrested for attempted murder after a shooting at Tempo Luxury Restaurant in January where three people were hurt.
Mabonga was known for dating Real Housewives of Durban star Londie London last year.
Pictured above: Sphamandla Mabonga and his ex Londie London.
Image source: @Am_Bluejay
This article has been updated to include the name of the restaurant and the businessman killed with his two bodyguards.
