MOPANI – A well-known taxi owner, Libeko Michael Malatjie (54) has briefly appeared in the Bolobedu Magistrate's Court on Monday, on two counts of murder. The incident relating to the case took place in the bushes surrounding Gantatho Village in the Bolobedu area last Saturday afternoon at about 18:30.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani Area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, the accused received information that his wife had a love affair with another man. He was further told that on the day of the incident the woman was in the company of her boyfriend in the nearby bushes.

The accused allegedly followed them into the bushes and found them having sexual intercourse inside the boyfriend's car. According to the statement, the boyfriend saw the accused from a distance and jumped out of the vehicle started to run away in his underwear.

Realising that the man was running away, the accused allegedly opened fire on him from a distance. Several shots hit him in the back, but the man vanished in the bushes. After the man's disappearance the accused turned the gun to his wife and allegedly shot and killed her instantly.

The accused later phoned the police and told them that he has killed his wife. He further told the police that he has fired several shots at the man who was in the company of his wife and that the man vanished into the surrounding bushes. The police traced the man and he was found dead a distance away from where the wife was killed. According to the police statement the man had several bullet wounds on his the back.

Malatjie was not asked to plead and the case was postponed until next Monday, May 26. He stays in custody.

The accused's wife was identified as Victoria Malatjie (43) while the boyfriend's name is Samuel Moropeni (48). Police are investigating the matter further.