Limpopo man allegedly hacks wife to death before setting himself alight

Domestic killings have been condemned by the South African Police Service (SAPS) after charred remains of a 62-year-old man and the hacked body of his wife, 57, were found inside their home on Wednesday 8 January 2020 in Driekop Limpopo. 

Limpopo police were called by community members after they were alarmed by hysterical screams at a house that was on fire. 

Police then responded swiftly, together with the fire brigade and medical emergency services. 

Husband allegedly hacks wife to death in Limpopo

Upon arrival at the scene, the house was already engulfed in flames and the couple’s vehicle – a Nissan bakkie – was totally burnt out. 

Police commenced with initial investigations and made the gruesome discovery of the two bodies. The woman’s body was found inside a shack and the charred remains of her husband were found inside the gutted five-bedroom house in Limpopo.

The police also found a blood-stained murder weapon next to the woman’s body and a bottle containing remnants of a flammable substance was also discovered nearby.

Police are investigating the possibility that a 62-year-old man allegedly chopped his 57-year-old wife to death, torched their vehicle and thereafter doused himself with a flammable substance inside the house. 

The deceased has since been identified as Phillip Mafalo and Magdeline Mpana Mahlokwane.

Image via: Limpopo SAPS

Motive unknown 

SAPS Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said it is not yet known what led to the grisly incident in Limpopo, however, domestic violence cannot be ruled out. 

“Cases of Murder, Inquest, Arson and Malicious Damage to Property have been opened and police investigations are underway,” said Mojapelo. 

Provincial Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba strongly condemns another incident of domestic killing after the gruesome discovery on Wednesday. 

Murder-suicide in separate incident in Limpopo

A murder-suicide in Limpopo had all the hallmarks of a domestic dispute. 

The body of a 30-year-old nurse and what was believed to be her partner were found dead in a house outside the coal mining town of Lephalale, in Limpopo on 2 January 2020. 

Police said that domestic violence could not be ruled out as a possible motive for the nurse’s brutal murder. 

The police in Tom Burke outside Lephalale opened cases of murder and an inquest following the discovery. 

“The nurse was lying in a pool of blood and the body of her alleged partner was hanging from the rafter in a house at Mahlasedi village,” said Mojapelo.