MOPANI – The police in Mopani are investigating two cases of murder, following two similar incidents that took place in the area last Thursday. In each case, a person was allegedly killed and a person committed suicide.

The first incident took place at Shimange village near Giyani at about 18:30. According to the police spokesperson in the area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, the victim, Motlanalo Rasibotse (28) was on the way home when the incident occurred. She met her boyfriend, Sunday Mothelo (35) along the way. According to the police statement, the two walked together in the direction of Rasibotse’s kraal.

Along the way, Mothelo allegedly started hacking Rasibotse with a panga. A certain man arrived at the scene during the ordeal. When he intervened, Mothelo left the scene and ran towards the surrounding bushes.

At that stage, Rasibotsa was bleeding profusely. She was later taken to the Nkhensani Hospital where she was certified dead on arrival. The search for Rasibotsa started shortly after the incident. His dead body was found hanging from a tree in the bushes the following day.

The other incident took place at the Tekamahala settlement in the Calcata area on the same day. According to the statement, the deceased, Portia Ndaba (20) and her boyfriend, Vusi Chiloane (23) were watching television during the night of the incident.

At about 22:00, they told other occupants of the house that they were going to bed. Their dead bodies were found lying next to each other in the street the following morning. According to the statement, Portia’s body had bullet wounds on the shoulder and neck, while a bullet wound was found on Chiloane’s head.

In the statement, the police have appealed to people not to resort to committing suicide if and when they have problems, saying they should instead use other social ways of dealing with problems.