A member of 15 SAI Battalion of the South African Defence Force, Rfn Meshack Kharivhe (35), appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday on four charges of murder. He allegedly went berserk on Saturday evening and mercilessly bludgeoned his wife and three children to death with a spade.

After the incident, Kharivhe handed himself over to the police.

Mystery still surrounds the gruesome killing of the woman and her three children. At this stage, the police do not want to speculate about a possible motive for the killings. The incident has left the community of Mukula outside Thohoyandou in a state of shock.

The deceased are Winnie Matodzi (27) and her three children, daughter Zwonaka (9), son Thendo (3) and baby girl Maduvha (9 months).

It is alleged that a heated argument ensued between the husband and wife over a suspected extra-marital affair. A resident of the village, Mr Edward Negodima, said he was at a tavern not far from the scene at about 21:00, when someone came running and telling people of what had happened.

"I was enjoying my beer and dancing to music as there was group performing at the time and I had to follow others to the family," he said. "The scene that greeted us shocked everyone - bodies with gaping wounds and soaked in blood just sprawled everywhere; it was a real house of horrors," he said.

Grief-stricken Grace Matodzi, mother of Ms Winnie Matodzi, said the incident has left the family stunned. "We heard that the couple had had some differences over an alleged new love in Kharivhe´s life some two weeks ago, but we thought everything had been solved," she said sobbing. She added that the marriage was an abusive one and her daughter was like a slave in her own home. "My daughter was a prisoner; she never enjoyed life and she lived a miserable life till to the end," she said.

Matodzi said she was also worried that, after the incident, no one from the family bothered to inform them but they heard it from strangers and later the police. "We are very hurt as we do not even know what exactly happened to our daughter and her children. If the police could just give him some time to explain to us what happened, we would be grateful," she said.

She said they have accepted the death of their daughter and they were putting everything in the hands of God. "Nothing will bring our daughter back to life. Let the law take its course and the guilty person must pay for his ghastly deeds," she said.

Mashudu Matodzi, elder sister of Winnie, said she felt like a part of her was removed when she heard about the incident. "As sisters we were inseparable and I will dearly miss her," she said.

Mashudu said her sister told her there were some differences between her and her husband as he had found a new girlfriend. "It did not seem to bother her that much as she was used to it. We never thought it would go that far; we are devastated," she said sadly.

The spokesperson for the Limpopo police in Vhembe, Insp Nkanukeni Raedani, confirmed the incident and that a man later handed himself to the police. Raedani said they are investigating four counts of murder against the suspect.

Raedani encouraged all couples with problems to approach the relevant structures for assistance. About a month ago, two promising young lives were tragically lost after an alleged jilted lover shot and killed a former girlfriend and a boy whom he suspected she was romantically involved with. The incident happened at Ralson Tshinanne Secondary School at Ngovhela Village outside Sibasa.

Ndivhuho Tshikororo (15) and Mbulungeni Makungo (19) were both shot at the school gate. Mbulungeni was killed instantly and Ndivhuwo later died at the local hospital. The incident sent shockwaves through the community. The suspect in the case, Mashudu Masiagwala, later turned himself in to the police.

Meshack Kharivhe was charged with four counts of murder. He was not asked to plead and his case was postponed to May 7.