Zimbabwe international Divine Lunga walked away unhurt after gunmen targeted his car in central Johannesburg on Sunday.
The 31-year-old defender was driving through the inner-city suburb of Hillbrow with his younger brother when an unknown attacker opened fire, according to South African police. Local reports say Lunga was on his way to church at the time.
Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed an attempted murder case has been opened. No arrests have been made and further details were not released. The Citizen reported that the gunman may have mistaken Lunga for an undercover officer.
Lunga plays for both the Zimbabwe national team, nicknamed the Warriors, and South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns. He joined Sundowns in 2021 and has since won four domestic league titles. In May he was part of the squad that lifted the club’s second African Champions League trophy. He has 21 caps for Zimbabwe and featured in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Neither Sundowns nor the Zimbabwe Football Association has issued an official statement. The Warriors posted a photo of Lunga in prayer with the caption “In God we trust” next to his name.
The shooting highlights ongoing concerns about violent crime in South Africa, which continues to record one of the highest murder rates in the world.
