LIMPOPO – Police in Namakgale are investigating two counts of murder and one of attempted murder following a brutal incident at Namakgale Shopping Complex on Sunday, September 28.

At approximately 17:15, officers responded to reports of a shooting inside a wholesale store. On arrival, they discovered three people lying in a pool of blood with visible injuries.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, preliminary investigations reveal that a 45-year-old man had followed his 40-year-old wife into the store, where she attempted to hide.

Armed with a gun, he pursued her into the manager’s office and fired two shots, injuring the store manager. He then dragged his wife out, stabbed her multiple times, and fatally shot her before turning the gun on himself.

The suspect was declared dead at the scene.

“Police confirmed that the firearm used was unlicensed, with its serial number filed off. Officers recovered the firearm, a knife, cartridges, and projectiles as evidence. The injured female manager was rushed to hospital for urgent medical care,” says Mashaba.

The identities of the deceased will be released once formal processes are complete, and police believe the motive to be domestic-related, but investigations are continuing.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe condemned the incident:  “This brutal act is yet another reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence. We urge community members facing challenges in their relationships to seek help and support rather than resorting to violence,” she says.