Police are investigating a traumatic experience whereby a mother of three was hacked to death with her pair of twin sons and her daughter in her house at Phola Park, Thandukukhanya, in Piet Retief.
The provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mholala, said the gruesome discovery was made by the police on February 24, at about 22:25, after the family members filed a complaint that they had made several attempts to get hold of the family members but had failed.
“Police in Piet Retief immediately responded to the complaint; however, they found the house locked. They (police) had to force their entry into the house and were amazed by the discovery of a lifeless body in the kitchen.
“When proceeding with the search, a 47 year old woman’s body, her 11-year-old son, and her 6-year-old daughter were found lying dead in one of the rooms, and an axe believed to have been used to eliminate them was also found in the same room,”
“The body found in the kitchen was that of a twin brother of the 11 year old boy’s body that was found alongside his mother and sister.” he said
Mohlala added that surprisingly, their four-room house was locked from the outside, raising suspicions that the heartless attacker locked them in after the gruesome murder. All victims were certified dead by paramedics on the scene.
“It is further alleged that the victims were last seen alive on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Piet Retief police would like the father of the six year old daughter, Thembinkosi Africa Shongwe (55), who can not be located at his known address at Eziphunzini, Thandukukhanya in Piet Retief, to come forward as it is believed that he may be of great assistance to the police investigation.,” he said.
Community members who might know his whereabouts must not hesitate to contact Captain Dumisani Gumbi on 082 493 1962 or call the police Crime Stop number at 08600 10111, or, alternatively, use the My SAPS APP. The police guarantee that all information received will be treated confidentially.
In the meantime, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, calls upon community members not to take the law into their own hands and to assist the police in fighting violence against women and children. “Attacking defenceless women and children is regarded as being cowardly by those who are supposed to protect them,” said the general.
