A 30-year-old woman was found naked, lying dead in a pool of blood at Tshedza village last Friday.

Also discovered dead were the victim's two children, a five-year-old girl and a seven-month-old boy.

According to a police statement, other villagers noticed smoke coming from the deceased's two-roomed house. On arrival, they noticed that one of the windows had been broken and opened. Villagers, who went to the house with the idea of offering assistance, informed the police, who, on arrival, discovered the three victims’ lifeless bodies. “The mother was found lying dead in a pool of blood in the sitting room, naked, and with a big, long wound to the left cheek and on her occiput, which seems to be inflicted by a heavy instrument,” reads part of the police statement.

The two children were found dead on top of the bed, which was burnt to ashes. The two children were not burnt beyond recognition, as their heads, abdomens, parts of their hands and legs were visible. It is alleged that, while the property inside the bedroom was burnt to ashes, the house was not burnt from the outside and even the deceased in the sitting room was not burnt.

“It is further alleged that the deceased appeared to have been attacked while she was in the bedroom, as the blood stains on the floor were from the bedroom,” reads the police statement. As no suspect has been identified yet, police are appealing to anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the murderer to contact the nearest police station.

A murder case was opened at the Siloam SAPS.

In a separate incident, the police in Thohoyandou have opened an inquest docket, following the death of a 26-year-old man at Tshivhulani, Ha-Tshifura location. He was found hanging from a mango tree with a nylon rope around his neck last Saturday.

A culpable homicide case has been opened at Siloam SAPS following the death of a truck driver(58) at Thononda village last Saturday at about 14:00. It is alleged that the truck driver was towing another truck and, while traversing the Thononda-Tshithuthuni public road, the towed truck pushed the front truck. The truck in front suddenly overturned and killed the driver instantly. According to the police statement, the driver of the towed truck and two passengers were conveyed to Siloam hospital for medical treatment. The trucks are reported to be beyond repair.

* An attempted murder case has been opened at the Thohoyandou SAPS after a 21-year-old man was shot in the left elbow during a drinking spree at Tshikhudini Bottle Store last Saturday night. It is alleged that, when the incident happened, the victim was drinking with his friends, when the suspect started shooting randomly without being provoked. One bullet struck the suspect in the left elbow. The victim was rushed to Tshilidzini hospital to receive medical treatment. He is reported to be in a stable condition, while the suspect is still at large.