Julie Kalala - a victim of robbery and murder in South Africa

Julie Kalala

Julie Kalala, age 21, of Newlands, Pretoria, died on January 26, 2014, at a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.

Julie and her boyfriend had gone to Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg to pick up her mother from a flight.

Gangs of thieves operate in some South African airports. They are sometimes called "Follow Home" gangs. They look for people at the airport who are well dressed or who give the appearance of having money and then they follow them home from the airport and rob them. They often target people of West African origin and those who are not native born South Africans.

It is believed that this is what happened in this case. Julie, her mother and boyfriend were robbed by three men in the driveway of Julie's home in Pretoria.

The thieves took the mother’s luggage, some jewelry, and cash in the amount of R 10,900. It has been reported that Julie asked that the thieves not take her mother's passport, and it was during this conversation that Julie was shot. This has not been confirmed.

The thieves fled and Julie's boyfriend went to a neighbour's house for help. Julie was

Angels of God, pray for Julie

rushed to the hospital but she was declared deceased upon arrival.

No arrests have been made.

Julie and her family are originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Julie was a second year marketing student at Tshwane University of Technology.

Her family are deeply mourning her tragic and senseless death.

To the thieves - What does it profit a man who gains the whole world and loses his own soul?

Julie is survived by many loving friends and family members including her mother, Josephine Kalala; and her boyfriend, who witnessed her shooting.

God save us from the thieves. They are killing us, Father.

Pray that Julie is in heaven. Pray that she is at peace and is with God. Amen.