An argument over the custody of a four-year-old child between a fighting couple ended tragically, when the man went berserk, killing his wife and a six-month-old baby.

The gruesome incident took place in front of shocked staff and community members at the Tshiombo Clinic last Friday afternoon.

It is alleged the couple, Dumisani Makamu (32) and his wife Uanndwela Muthabi (23) of Mianzwi-Matondoni outside Thohoyandou were in the process of finalising their separation process at the local social worker's offices when a heated argument ensued.

It is suspected that their differences stemmed from a number found on the woman’s cellphone. The husband is said to have been suspicious of the number and to have called it. According to a police report, it is alleged that the owner of the number introduced himself as the husband of the woman and also told the man the couple's last-born child was in fact his child.

The information allegedly incensed the husband, who confronted his wife with the information. She then allegedly confessed to having met the man once while they were working together during the Fifa World Cup games. This apparently infuriated the man, who called his sisters, who are also based in Pretoria, and told them that he was parting ways with his wife.

Ms Mavis Makamu, the man's mother, said the couple arrived home on Wednesday. “They were happy and did not show any signs of strain, and I did not suspect anything even though I knew they had problems,” she said. She said she went to sleep, but was later awoken by her son who told her he had a problem with his wife.

She said she tried to console him, even quoting from the Bible on divorce, but he told her that he had made up his mind and that they were divorcing. She said they agreed that they would be going to meet the wife’s mother in an effort to iron out the matter.

“We went to Thohoyandou, but her mother was not there as promised. Instead, she sent a certain man who is said to be the wife's uncle," she said. She added that her son refused to talk to the man and said he was going to the social workers at Thohoyandou. He was referred back to the Tshiombo office.

Ms Makamu said they were together at the Tshiombo offices when an argument ensued over the custody of the other child, Tsakani.  “They argued there and at one time I was even ordered out of the office.  All the time I could hear Dumisani complaining that the female social worker was taking sides in favour of the wife," she said.

She said they could not reach an amicable solution, and as they were ordered out of the office, his son started attacking his wife with a brick. “I do not even know where he got the brick, but in no time he was all over his wife, bashing her head with the brick. I tried to wrestle the child from the mother, but Dumisani turned to her and smashed her head. The clinic staff tried to help, but  the two were certified dead on the scene,” she said.

She said she was terrified as staff tired to resuscitate the two victims, but it later became clear they were both dead. Dumisani Makamu fled the scene, but was arrested later the same day at his brother’s house in the same village.

The dead woman's mother, Maria Sikhwivhilu, is devastated. "I knew something bad was going to happen. My son-in-law called me, but I could not face him. I just feared meeting him," she said. She said they were supposed to have met to iron out the problem, but something just told her not to meet him.

Takalani Muswede, a community leader at Mianzwi, said the incident was uncalled for. “We urge everyone with family problems not to wait until it is too late before ironing out their problems but to visit the relevant structures. We do not need such careless loss of life in the community,” he said.

Mutale police spokesperson W/O Tshilidzi Nyambeni said  Dumisani Makamu (32) had been arrested and that he appeared in court on Monday. He has been charged with the murders of his wife and the baby, Mukhodeni. The case was postponed to 16 November and he remains in custody.

Meanwhile, the two families have met and are jointly preparing for the funeral.