According to Capt. Khanyisile Zwane, Middelburg police spokesperson, Patricia Shabangu (35) sustained serious burn wounds when battery acid was allegedly thrown on to her face by her boyfriend.

The incident occurred on Sunday at 01:30 at the Uitkyk informal settlement. Ms Shabangu was transported to the Middelburg Hospital and later transferred to the Witbank Hospital, where she later succumbed to her wounds.

She had burn wounds on her face and neck. It is suspected that she swallowed some of the battery acid, causing irreparable damage to her intestines.

An initial attempted murder docket has now been changed to one of murder.

No one was arrested at the time of going to press.

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