News24 | Limpopo cops probe two domestic disputes that turned deadly

Two deadly domestic disputes occurred in Limpopo over the weekend.

• Two deadly domestic disputes occurred in Limpopo over the weekend - one a murder-suicide and the other a murder, which ended in an attempted suicide, according to police.
• In the murder-suicide case, two sisters were killed and a third was wounded.
• In the other case, a South African National Defence Force member is under police guard in hospital.

Limpopo police are investigating two deadly domestic disputes that occurred over the weekend - one a murder-suicide in which two sisters were killed, and the other involving a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) member who allegedly killed his teenaged son.

In the first incident, a 45-year-old Limpopo man killed himself after killing his wife and sister-in-law, in Mabins B Village, near Hoedspruit, according to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.

Ledwaba said officers were on patrol when they were alerted to a shooting in the village.

At the scene, they found the brother of the victims, who pointed out the bodies of his two sisters, aged 44 and 36.

“They both [had] multiple gunshot wounds,” Ledwaba said.

Another sister, aged 34, managed to run to safety after she was shot in the stomach. She was taken to a hospital.

“Following the incident, the suspect departed from the scene and was allegedly found at his residence after he shot himself with his firearm,” Ledwaba added.

The motive for the incident is unknown.

The second incident occurred in Ha-Mutsha village in Tshitandani on Sunday.

Ledwaba said police arrived at the scene to find a 53-year-old SANDF member man in a pool of blood outside the house.

“He was still alive with a 9mm pistol next to him. Several cartridges were found scattered at the scene,” Ledwaba said.

While searching the house, police found his 17-year-old son’s body.

READ | Presidential Protection officer wanted for murder kills himself after police corner him

“He was found lying on a bed with gunshot wounds to the head,” Ledwaba said.

The motive for the shooting is unclear.

News24 has asked the SANDF for comment, which will be added once received.

Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe condemned both incidents and expressed concern about domestic violence in the province.

“I, once more, call upon families to seek professional help when experiencing domestic challenges, instead of resorting to violence,” he said.