Mamelodi Sundowns and Zimbabwe international defender Divine Lunga has miraculously escaped unharmed after unidentified gunmen opened fire on his vehicle in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.
In a testament to his mental resilience, the 31-year-old left-back was back on the training pitch at Chloorkop with his teammates less than 24 hours after the terrifying ordeal. Lunga has since registered a formal case of attempted murder at the Hillbrow Police Station.
Case of Mistaken Identity: What Really Happened
Initial social media reports suggested the defender was in the notorious Johannesburg inner-city neighborhood to assist a friend. However, concrete details emerged clarifying the sequence of events:
- The Wrong Turn: Lunga and his younger brother were traveling to a church service when they became lost and disoriented in unfamiliar sections of Hillbrow.
- Mistaken Identity: According to investigative reports, an unknown criminal suspect allegedly mistook the Sundowns star for an undercover police officer monitoring the area.
- The Ambush: The suspect opened fire on the vehicle. Showing incredible composure under literal fire, Lunga managed to accelerate and safely drive both himself and his brother away from the ambush. Neither sustained physical injuries.
Back to Business in the Betway Premiership
While South African Police Services (SAPS) continue their targeted investigation into the shooting, Lunga has immediate focused his attention back on football.
Sundowns recently returned to intense pre-season training camps under head coach Miguel Cardoso as they map out their defense of the 2026/27 Betway Premiership title. Lunga—who joined Masandawana in 2021 following an elite stint at Lamontville Golden Arrows and an iconic performance pocketing Mohamed Salah at the 2019 AFCON—remains a core component of the champions’ defensive stable.
