MOPANI – What started as a domestic matter ended with the death of a 28-year-old woman, Mrs Lydia Mathe. The incident leading to her death took place at Siyandani Village in the Mopani Policing Area on Sunday morning at about 05:30.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani Area, Const Sylvia Hlungwane, it is alleged that the deceased and her husband, Mr Jabu Simon Makhulele (43), were engaged in an argument at their Shawela Village home the night before the incident. It is alleged that the argument started when the man accused the wife of having an affair with another man.

She vehemently denied the allegations and that resulted in their allegedly exchanging bitter words. The argument grew with time and the woman decided to pack her bags and leave for her parents’ home at Siyandani Village in the middle of the night.

According to the police statement, Makhubele allegedly followed her to her parents’ home the following morning at about 05:30. On arrival at Siyandani village, Makhubele allegedly went on accusing the woman of fornication. The woman told the man that she was having no love affair with anyone and that she was speaking nothing but the truth.

The statement indicates that the man allegedly lost his temper during the argument and produced a panga. He allegedly stabbed the woman several times throughout the body. The woman fell down and the man allegedly cut her throat with the panga.

Makhubele was arrested later that afternoon. He appeared in the Giyani Magistrate’s court on Tuesday. He was not asked to plead and the case was postponed until next Thursday, June 2. Makhubele will be in custody until his next court appearance, as his bail application was turned down.