My mother was killed, toddler tells aunt

When a three-year-old girl walked to her aunt’s house on Monday (15^th) to tell her that her mother had been killed, no one believed her. The girl was even told not to joke about such matters. However, a short while later, the body of the mother was discovered in a pool of blood.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 at Tshivaloni village, about 15 kilometres from Tshipise. A man had allegedly killed his estranged wife, 36-year-old Ms Nkhetheni Mudau, with what is believed to be an axe before fleeing the scene. The little girl had possibly witnessed the murder or the killer might have told her that her mother was dead.

The dead woman’s sister, Ms Tshengelo Munyai, who lives close to the deceased woman’s home, said she was at home when the girl arrived and told her that her mother was dead. “I did not believe her and told her not to joke about death. It was only after a while that I went to the house and found her in a pool of blood. With the help of neighbours, we summoned the police, who arrived with emergency personnel. I cannot believe she is gone,” she said.

The sister added that the couple had argued, and the man had moved out of the house. “We had thought everything was amicably sorted as the man went to stay elsewhere, but we were surprised to find out that he was still coming to the house and that he still had a spare key to the house,” she said.

Munyai expressed concern that her sister’s six children would have to face life without the care of parents. She mentioned they were busy with funeral arrangements and that her sister would be buried at the local cemetery on Saturday, 20 April.

Local community leader Mr Thendo Nemukula described the incident as heartbreaking. “We were together on Saturday, 13 April, at the Nenweli Busy Corner Tavern in Mbodi village, where there was a music bash. She was in a very jolly mood. We are assisting the family with burial arrangements,” he said.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba confirmed the incident, stating that a murder case had been opened. The suspect is known, but has not yet been arrested.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the husband is urged to contact the investigating officer, Sgt Makuya, at 082-4142481, or use the Crime Stop number, the nearest police station, or the MySAPS App.

News - Date: 19 April 2024

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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