BODE – The police in Mopani have arrested a 56-year-old man following the death of his 23-year-old son. His arrest follows an incident that took place at the suspect’s home at Bode near Giyani on Sunday evening at about 19:30.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, it is alleged that the suspect and the deceased were engaged in a heated debate during the night of the incident. The core of the whole argument could not be established.

According to the police statement, it is further alleged that, during the argument, the suspect left the deceased and went to his hut. He came back to the scene moments thereafter and continued where he left off.

At that stage, he was holding a knobkierie.

The argument took an ugly turn when the old man allegedly lost his temper and started beating his son with his weapon. Realising that his father was prepared to kill him, the deceased decided to discontinue with the argument. It was only then that the suspect stopped beating him. According to the statement, the deceased was bleeding profusely through the nose, mouse and ears at that stage. Later in the night, the deceased went to sleep inside his hut. It was discovered the following morning that the young man had died inside the hut during the night.

The suspect was arrested and charged with murder later that day. He was still to appear in the Giyani Magistrate’s Court at the time of going to press.