Two people killed in domestic violence, reckless driving incidents
Suspected reckless driving and domestic violence resulted in the death of two people in the area over the weekend. Another person was killed in a vehicle accident on Tuesday morning.
TONGA – Three people were killed in separate incidents in the area between Saturday and Monday.
According to Capt Magonseni Nkosi, police came upon the first victim on Saturday night in Mangweni, after neighbours reported a disturbance and wanted police to intervene in what they suspected was domestic violence.
When police arrived at the house, a 15-year-old girl was found dead and the suspected culprit, her father (31), was nowhere to be found.
The girl was severely assaulted and police suspected that one of the blows proved fatal.
The man handed himself over to police the next day and is expected to appear in court soon.
READ: Know the warning signs of child abuse
This is not the first time punishment gone wrong has landed a parent in police custody. The most recent case was in November last year, when a woman was arrested after severely beating her seven-year-old son. He was treated in hospital and taken into the care of social workers. After her court appearance, the woman was released.
Nkosi cautioned parents not to cross the line to serious violence when punishing their children.
Around 04:00 on Monday morning, a man was killed in a hit-and-run incident near the Phiva-Mzinti junction.
Nkosi explained that a man and woman were getting out of a taxi when a vehicle hit the man, killing him. The driver of the vehicle tried to run away, but he was chased by witnesses and handed over to the police.
A case of culpable homicide was opened and the man is scheduled to appear in the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court soon.
READ: What are my rights when I am injured in a motor vehicle accident?
Nkosi mentioned that the event occurred after a huge social event at a local party spot.
He said that police provide security for such events and usually patrol in the area when big events take place to keep the community safe. He remarked that in some cases people at these parties treat police officers like objects and urged community members to treat them with respect and work with them.
READ: Women urged to ward against rapists in Tonga and Naas
On Tuesday around 05:00, a passenger in a bakery delivery vehicle was killed after it crashed into the back of a bus on the D797 road in KaMhlushwa.
According to Moeti Mmusi of the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, no other injuries were reported and the MEC sent his condolences to the family of the deceased.
