Families mourn ‘sombre events’ of murder-suicide in Polokwane
Dr Tshimangadzo Muofhe, a mother of two, was shot by her fiancé Dr Mainfred Shikwambana at their home in Thornhill Village on March 26.
POLOKWANE – It is horrifying that their family will never know the specific details of her sister’s death.
These are the words of Dowelani Muofhe, as she speaks about the day Tshimangadzo Muofhe, a medical doctor attached to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital, was killed two weeks ago.
According to a police report, the 33-year-old mother of two was shot by her fiancé, Dr Mainfred Shikwambana, who was attached to the Donald Fraser Hospital, before he turned the gun on himself at their home in Thornhill Village in the late afternoon of March 26.
Read more: Polokwane doctor gunned down in murder-suicide incident
Dowelani confirmed this week that it was their mom who made the discovery of the two bodies.
“We had tried multiple times to get hold of Tshimangadzo, so my mom eventually left her home in Venda to see what was going on. Talking about that day is so hard because we can in the end only connect pieces as the information comes to us. My sister was always the kind of person who, had she been busy and couldn’t come to the phone, would tell you so and phone back later.”
According to Dowelani, her sister had called their mom as she was on her way to the city, and spoke to her briefly.
“She ended the conversation without saying goodbye.”
Dowelani explained that security guards at the estate accompanied her to the house upon her arrival and that she knocked on the door several times.
“Word had it that there had been a commotion earlier the day, and people suggested that we break the door open in order to get in.”
Efforts to reach the Shikwambana family were fruitless, but they did communicate through Health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana.
Thomas Shikwambana sent the following comment on behalf of the family:
“As a family, we are devastated at the untimely death of my brother. In him we have lost a jewel and an exemplary young man. It is quite a sad and a sombre week for all of us in the family as we are trying to come into terms with his passing, but we believe that God will help us to pull through and give him a befitting send-off.
“We appreciate the messages of support that we have been receiving from all across as they strengthen us during this dark and difficult period.”
Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba attended the respective memorial services of the two doctors.
