The stabbing death of a 24-year-old Melbourne model Nathan Mwanza has sent shockwaves through African diasporic communities in Australia. The young man, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, migrated to Australia with his family in 2008 and settled in Melbourne. He was known for his work as a model, having collaborated with well-known brands. Standing at 190 centimetres tall, he had plans to move overseas this year to further his modelling career.
On the evening of February 19, the young man was on a bus in Wyndham Vale when two individuals—a young man and a teenage boy—allegedly approached him. According to police reports, he exited the bus one stop earlier than usual and was followed. An altercation ensued, resulting in the young man sustaining fatal stab wounds. Paramedics attempted to revive him at the scene, but he died shortly afterward. Two people have been charged in connection with the attack, and Victoria Police are continuing their investigation.
Nathan Mwanza, victim of youth violence in Wyndham Vale, Melbourne (Photo source: herald Sun)
The victim was the second of six children in his family. His mother was reportedly hospitalized due to shock after identifying his body. His father, who last saw him just hours before his death, expressed disbelief over the incident. The victim’s older sister recounted receiving the news while preparing her son for bed.
The bus stop where the incident occurred has since become a makeshift memorial. A walk to mourn the victim was held on Thursday evening, with attendees asked to dress in black to honor him. His modelling agency described him as a “kind, gentle, and ambitious young man” who had been a privilege to work with.
The death has deeply affected Victoria’s Congolese community, many of whom fled violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country has experienced civil unrest since 1996, resulting in millions of deaths and displacements. Community leaders expressed shock and trauma over the incident, noting that it serves as a reminder of the fragility of safety.
The incident has also sparked conversations about the treatment of Black lives in the media and the often-invisible nature of Black grief in Australia. Friends and community members have shared their distress over the tragedy, highlighting the communal pain experienced by migrant communities in the face of such violence.
