MOPANI – The community at Maake area are still shocked, following a tragic incident that took place at the Mangweni Village early this week when a 31-year-old woman killed her three sons and threw their bodies into the river and later threw herself into the same river as well.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, it is alleged that Mrs Maite Christinah Monyela (31) took her three sons to the nearly Letlabine River on Sunday afternoon. On arrival at the river, she allegedly strangled them and threw their bodies into the river. She went back home after the incident.

When she arrived at home, the people who saw her leaving her home with the boys earlier that morning, asked her about the children’s whereabouts. She told them that she took them to their grandmother’s place and that they would come back during the week.

She was again asked the same questions the following day, Monday.

Instead of responding to the questions, she went to the same river in which she threw her three sons’ bodies. On arrival at the river, she wrote a note on a piece of paper and put it under a stone on the riverbank.

She then threw herself into the river, where she drowned. The people who saw the incident notified the police about it and upon their arrival at the scene, the police found the bodies of the three children floating on the water.

They later found the woman’s body. The three boys were identified as Rector Letsoalo (9), Gilan Monyela (6) and Evans Monyela (4). According to the police, on the suicide note it was written that the boys died on Sunday, October 17, while she (Christinah) died the following day (Monday). The police are investigating the matter.