Shock, grief and fear have gripped the rural community of Mashobye in the Malamulele area. This follows the brutal killing of a 63-year-old man and an 81-year-old granny, allegedly by a 37-year-old man.

The suspect, who is a mental care patient, allegedly beheaded Mr Mackson Maluleke and castrated him with a panga before beating Ms Jhakajhaka Hlungwani to death with a plank. The incident happened on Monday morning.

The suspect was severely assaulted by the community before being rescued by the police, who took him into custody.

The suspect’s mother, who stays at Makhuvha outside Thohoyandou, said she received a call from her brother and niece on Saturday to say the suspect had called them and sworn at them. “I knew that he wasn’t right and that his mental illness was taking over. I had planned to come on Monday to take him to the hospital for his medication. Unfortunately I was late, and he allegedly committed the gruesome killings,” she said.

She said the whole issue devastated her as it could have been averted. “We were at peace at home at Makhuvha when he told me that he wanted to be next to his father, and I could not deny him that right. The problem is that he had not been taking his medication for some time. Had he been taking his medication, the two people would still be alive,” she said.

The suspect’s brother said he has no doubt that the killings “have to do with his mental condition. He had been a mental patient for more than 18 years.”

Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi stated that they had arrested a 37-year-old suspect in connection with the two murders. “He will appear in court soon and will be charged with two counts of murder," said Mulaudzi.