A woman from Soshanguve Block V (Jukulyn), north of Pretoria, was shot dead and two children wounded in a brazen house attack on Monday night.

The woman was declared dead in hospital while the children are fighting for their lives.

Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi says Rietgat police responded to a complaint about a family being attacked during an armed house robbery.

Nevhuhulwi says police are investigating a case of house robbery, murder and two counts of attempted murder.

“The family was attacked by two unknown people in their home in Soshanguve on the evening of January 29,” she adds.

Nevhuhulwi says the suspects fled the scene with the victims’ cellphones and vehicle, which was later found abandoned.

She urges anyone with information that can assist with the investigation and arrest of the suspects to contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or anonymously on the MySAPS app.

This shocking incident has left the community reeling from the tragedy, as crime keeps on rising in the area.

Another incident

In an unrelated incident, also in Jukulyn, a woman was stabbed to death and her children (aged 12 and 16) beaten with a hammer, allegedly by her partner and their father, on Saturday.

The children are fighting for their lives in the George Mukhari Hospital after being beaten to a pulp and witnessing their mother being stabbed multiple times.

The man has reportedly vanished and his whereabouts are unknown.

Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said the deceased was found in the house and a case of murder and attempted murder is being investigated. “The girls were taken to a medical centre.”

Masondo added that police are searching for the boyfriend.

Organised prayer

Community organisations and gospel artists organised a prayer in hopes of bringing peace and order to this neighbourhood. It was held on Saturday.

The murders that have put the area under the spotlight recently include the New Year’s Day mass shooting that claimed the lives of 14-year-old Vuyolethu Ziwele, her police constable uncle Mpho Kgobotlo and his friends Phomolong Malakapatlo and Thandi Dlamini.

Ziwele was caught in the crossfire when three men carrying rifles and wearing bulletproof vests got out of two vehicles and started shooting.

The incident occurred around 01:30, sending shockwaves through the community.