Sandton – A night out at a Sandton restaurant turned deadly when prominent businessman Sphamandla Mabonga, previously linked to Real Housewives of Durban personality Londie London, was killed in a shootout. The incident occurred at Solo restaurant after Mabonga allegedly attempted to enter the establishment armed, sparking a violent confrontation between his bodyguards and the venue's security personnel.
The drama unfolded when two officers from the Sandton Commercial Crime Unit responded to a complaint that someone was attempting to enter the restaurant "by force," according to a police report seen by News24.
The report alleges that the officers spoke with the restaurant manager, who identified Mabonga standing at the door. Following a brief discussion, Mabonga reportedly complied with the officers' request to disarm and handed over his firearm to one of his eight bodyguards.
The police officers then proceeded to Mabonga's vehicle to verify his firearm licence.
"A security guard from the restaurant came out, and Mabonga started to shout and swear at him. 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," the police report stated. The officers took cover behind their vehicle as the situation spiralled out of control.
The report details the chaotic scene that followed: "Once the gunfire stopped, [police officers] went to attend to the injured; we noticed four people had been shot and were lying on the ground."
"We went to secure the people who had been shot. We called for backup and for paramedics. One of the bodyguards came back with his hands up. We were shouting at him to get on the ground. He went to his car, which was parked at the entrance of the restaurant and, got something out of his car, and then entered the restaurant. There was more gunfire inside the restaurant," the report continued.
After the second round of shooting ceased, officers discovered Mabonga's bodyguard dead inside the restaurant. Mabonga himself was found seriously wounded. "We went to attend to the other people who had been shot. Mabonga had been shot and was in a bad condition," the report read.
Mabonga was transported to Morningside Clinic, where he was pronounced dead. The report also indicated that two "innocent patrons" caught in the crossfire were transported to hospital by ambulance, as was a Community Policing Forum (CPF) member who had arrived to assist at the scene and was shot in the leg and abdomen during the second shootout inside the restaurant.
The incident has brought renewed attention to Mabonga's past, including his romantic link to Real Housewives of Durban alum Londie London. The pair made their relationship public in July 2023, attending Floyd Mayweather's banquet dinner in Sandton together. Before this, in May, London thanked Mabonga for one of two BMW vehicles purchased for her.
Adding another layer of intrigue, London showcased the artillery she had purchased for Mabonga's birthday in September, including what appeared to be an R5 rifle. However, their romance seemed to have fizzled out by January of the following year, with London deleting their photos from social media.
When contacted for comment, Londie London declined to speak about the incident.
In an interview with News24 last year, London spoke about the challenges of dating in the public eye: "I am being very cautious because we cannot trust people. You might be cautious, but the other person might want to be out there and known."
"When it comes to the dating scene, I'm very scared right now, and I'm trying to keep to myself," she continued. "I learned that there needs to be a bit of privacy when it comes to your personal life."
This is not the first time Mabonga has been linked to a shooting at a Sandton establishment. In January last year, three people were wounded at Tempo Luxury Restaurant and Lounge. According to police, four people attempted to forcibly enter the establishment without undergoing a security search during that incident.
"They further allegedly assaulted the bouncer at the door and pointed [a firearm at him], causing the other bouncer to draw his firearm. That is when the random shooting started, leaving two people injured," police spokesperson Nevhuhulwi said at the time.
Nevhuhulwi confirmed that Mabonga had been arrested in connection with the Tempo Luxury Restaurant shooting and charged with attempted murder. The circumstances surrounding the Solo restaurant shooting are still under investigation
