Divine Lunga, a 31-year-old Zimbabwean footballer, has survived a gun attack in Johannesburg, according to South African police.
Lunga was driving in Hillbrow on Sunday when his car was shot at by an unknown gunman, local reports said. He escaped unharmed.
Lunga plays for Zimbabwe’s national football team and Mamelodi Sundowns, a top South African club. Crime is a major problem in South Africa, with one of the highest murder rates worldwide.
Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said they were investigating a case of attempted murder, but no arrests had been made. The Citizen, a South African publication, reported that Lunga was on his way to church with his brother when they came under attack.
The suspect opened fire on their car, apparently mistaking Lunga for an undercover police officer. Lunga has played 21 times for Zimbabwe’s national team and was part of the squad for the Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
Lunga joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2021 and has helped them win four domestic league titles, as well as their second African Champions League in May. Neither team has commented on the shooting, but Zimbabwe’s national team posted a picture of Lunga with a caption reading “In God we trust” alongside his name.
According to Captain Sibeko, the police are still investigating the incident, but no further details have been provided. The incident highlights the high crime rate in South Africa, which is a major concern for the country.
