The provincial police commissioner in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has strongly warned communities to desist from resorting to extreme violence when facing domestic or relationship challenges.

Hadebe’s warning comes after the body of a 39-year-old woman was found with multiple stab wounds in a house in Maelula village in the Makhado policing area on Wednesday. She was identified as Phumudzo Matrinah Mukhatho.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said Mukhato’s body was found a day after her partner, Edson Shumani Nematswerani’s body was also found hanging from a tree behind a pit toilet at his mother’s house in the Murunwa village under the Vhulaudzi policing area.

“Preliminary Police investigations indicated that the male deceased first killed his partner in Maelula Block B the previous day before he fled to his parental home. He then committed suicide by hanging himself,” Mojapelo said.

Police were called to the scene where they commenced with initial investigations which led them to Maelula village where they discovered Mukhato’s body.

Hadebe said the province is presently fighting the scourge of gender based violence and femicide and that incidents of this nature is of serious concern.

“Communities must work hand-in-hand with police to end these senseless killings,” she said.