Sarah Makhubele: Scorned lover confesses to murdering Limpopo mom

Sarah Makhubele, a 53-year-old woman from Xihosana, a village outside Malamulele, Limpopo, was discovered in a shallow grave, on Wednesday.

What happened to Sarah Makhubele?

The name, Sarah Makhubele surfaced on the news circuit for the first time, on Wednesday, 20 November, when her family had reported her missing.

The last person she was seen alive with was her lover, a man who has not been formally identified as yet. Days went by with no sign of the 53-year-old.

Then, a week later, villagers who had been searching for Sarah Makhubele stumbled on her lifeless body buried under a shallow grave, about a kilometre away from her place of residence.

It is believed that the villagers, obviously disturbed by what they had discovered, tracked down the 53-year-old’s lover and confronted him about what happened.

After repeatedly refusing to confess to the crime, the angry villagers attacked the man, who has subsequently become the prime suspect in the case. It is believed that the man was beat up until he confessed to murdering Makhubele.

The body of 57-YO Sarah Makhubele of Xihosani village was dug out of this shallow grave last night. Grave was pointed out by her lover. She was last seen last Wednesday. Angry community members apprehended and assulted the suspect until he took them to the grave #sabcnews #16Days pic.twitter.com/TQdEMz4XSz

— Pimani Baloyi (@PimaniBaloyi) November 28, 2019

What we know about the suspect: Motive, cause of death

In a recent SABC News report, the daughter of Sarah Makhubele revealed that her mother’s relationship with the suspect was always shaky. Apparently, there had been moments in their past where things had turned violent, so much so that the 53-year-old had filed assault cases against him multiple times.

However, she indicated that these cases were never pursued. Ultimately, the fiery relationship ended in the murder of Sarah Makhubele.

The motive behind the murder is still unknown. At this time, the case is being treated as an active investigation, despite the suspect’s confession which his defence may argue, was coerced by the angry villagers.

Moreover, the cause of death has yet to be confirmed since an autopsy report has, at this time, not been handed over to investigators.

The death of Makhubele has left the Malamulele village in shock. The victim’s daughter was preparing for her wedding shortly before her mother was killed. All those plans will have to give way for the burial of the 53-year-old.