A 39-year-old man who was arrested in connection to the murder of his 73-year-old mother is expected to appear before the Protea Magistrate’s Court today for a formal bail hearing.

The brazen murder is alleged to have taken place in the early hours of May 22 at their home in Protea Glen, Soweto, where it is alleged that the man hacked the elderly woman with an axe, killing her instantly.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that police received a complaint about a murder that took place in Extension Two.

“On arrival, the police found the victim lying in the bed with head injuries. She was certified dead at the scene. The 39-year-old male suspect, who is close to the victim, was arrested,” Masondo explained.

The body was taken to the mortuary, while the suspect was detained and kept at the Protea Glen SAPS, Masondo said at the time.

Masondo said the motive of the killing is unknown, but investigations are ongoing.

According to reports, a neighbour claimed that she was woken up in the early hours of the morning by a family member of the same house, informing her of the gruesome killing, before they proceeded to call the local police station.

The suspect appeared before the Protea Magistrate Court on a charge of murder on May 24, where the matter was postponed until today.