Men kill partners before taking own lives

Two men allegedly killed their female partners before taking their own lives in two separate incidents in the Maake and Haenertsburg areas respectively last Wednesday.

In the first incident, which occurred in Burgersdorp village in Maake, Reason Mnisi (29) allegedly beat his girlfriend Nkhensani Mashele (20) to death and set her body alight before taking his own life by hanging himself.

Tzaneen cluster police spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said the burnt body of the woman was found in a shallow hole just outside their yard while Mnisi’s body was found hanging from a rope in their house.

In Haenertsburg, Joseph Mashale (36) from Ga-Mamabolo allegedly killed Julia Mokgalabone (32) and hid her body underneath a bed in their shack, before hanging himself.

Ngoepe confirmed that Mokgalabone’s body, which had sustained multiple injuries, was discovered under the bed while Mashale’s body was found hanging from a tree in the veld.

Ngoepe said an inquest and a case of murder had been opened following these gruesome discoveries.

Tzaneen cluster police commander, Maj Gen Maggy Mathebula, appealed to residents who experienced domestic problems to seek professional help.