NELSPRUIT – A 24-year-old woman was reportedly hacked to death by her boyfriend in a domestic violence related incident which took place on Friday, 11 June 2021, at Hartebeeskop near Oshoek. As a result of this incident, a 33-year-old suspect is due to appear before the Eerstehoek Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, Monday 14 June 2021, in connection with her murder.

Reports indicate that a concerned citizen notified the police about a domestic violence incident in which a man was reportedly abusing his girlfriend at a certain house in the area. Upon the police arrival at the scene, they found the woman with severe multiple injuries lying in a pool of blood. She was unfortunately certified dead by paramedics. Police then registered a murder case and immediately launched a manhunt for the suspect. Their relentless efforts paid off as they managed to immediately make a breakthrough the same day, when they sniffed the suspect out of his hiding place at Dondonald near Elukwatini, hence the court appearance.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the woman was allegedly hacked by the suspect who then fled the scene thereafter. Police also discovered that on Thursday, 10 June 2021, the suspect was convicted by the court in a business burglary case where he received a suspended sentence.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Thulani Phahla has strongly condemned the incident in which this woman died. General Phahla has called on people to refrain from using violence in order to resolve domestic issues. “Gender-Based-Violence can never be condoned as a normal behaviour in our society or something to be emulated. Those who grew up in violent family setup where violence was the order of the day, should urgently get professional help before it is too late, “remarked General Phahla.

Source: South African Police Service