Sisters allegedly tried to poison mother days before her ‘conspired’ murder

A Mpumalanga mother who was allegedly killed by her daughters and raped by an accomplice earlier this month, was said to have been poisoned by them two days before the horrific ordeal. 

According to EWN, it emerged on Thursday 30 January 2020, the mother survived a previous attempt on her life by her children.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi said the sisters tried to kill their mother just two days before she was murdered but failed.

“A substance was poured in her liquor that she was drinking by one of her children. When she came back from the loo, she found her drink was mixed with a chemical and did not continue drinking,” said Hlathi. 

Mpumalanga mother brutally raped and killed 

As previously reported by TheSouthAfrican.com, Mpumalanga police made a breakthrough in the murder of a Mpumalanga woman and have arrested her own daughters for the gruesome act, less than a month after her body was discovered.

Police believe the killing of 62-year-old Wanter Dlamini from Barberton was orchestrated by her daughter, 30-year-old Nonhlanhla Mthunywa on 6 January 2020, while her sister made plans to get rid of the body.

Mthunywa is said to have invited her mother for a visit at her home, but little did she know it was where she would meet her end.

“On that fateful day, just like any other mother would be delighted to visit their loved ones, Dlamini could not contain her happiness and she prepared herself for the journey to visit her daughter as requested”, said Hlathi.

Upon arrival, Dlamini was attacked by two men and a woman her daughter had allegedly roped in to help ambush her own mother. She was gang-raped before being strangled to death. Her body was then wrapped in a blanket and hidden in an outside toilet.

It appears Mthunywa’s older sister was in on the horrific murder as they alleged she organised for transport to remove her mother’s body and had it dumped at a nearby veld. The body was later found and an investigation was launched.

Motive for Mpumalanga mother’s murder

Police believe the woman’s murder could have been financially motivated after discovering that one of Mthunywa’s accomplices had taken out a life insurance policy in the victim’s name, merely two months before.

“The police investigation revealed that Dlamini’s death was well planned ahead. It has since surfaced that in November 2019, an Insurance policy was taken by Nonhlanhla’s friend wherein Dlamini’s name was in the centre of the policy and her (Dlamini) unnatural death would imply that there would be a double cash pay-outs”, police said. 

Manhunt launched for remaining suspects

Nonhlanhla has already appeared before the Barberton Magistrate’s Court and will remain in custody until 5 February 2020, while her sister was expected in the same court on Thursday, 30 January 2020.

Police have, in the meantime, launched a massive manhunt for the remaining suspects and have called on the public to work with them in apprehending them.