Limpopo man arrested for allegedly killing his wife with a panga

LIMPOPO – A 32-year-old man, Shadrack Sithole, was arrested by Masisi police after he allegedly hacked his wife to death in Mukovha Wa Bale village, near Muswodi-Dipeni in the Niani area last Wednesday at around midday.

According to Vhembe police spokesperson WO Vuledzani Dathi, police were alerted by the community, and rushed to the scene.

Upon their arrival, they found a woman in a pool of blood with a deep wound to her neck. The deceased was identified as Mashudu Tshikhudo (35).

Preliminary investigations showed that the couple had been sitting at a local shebeen when an argument broke out. The suspect then left briefly, only to return with a panga which he used to attack her.

“He attempted to flee the scene, but police tracked him down and arrested him,” said Dathi.

Sithole appeared in the Masisi Periodical Court on Friday and was remanded in custody until yesterday (July 15), to allow him time to secure legal representation and apply for bail.

Police investigations are ongoing. Community outrage over the incident has been strong. Thabelo Nepfumbada, a local community leader, condemned the incident: “It is disturbing that men, who should protect their families, are becoming the very source of violence and tragedy. We will strongly oppose his bail application.

We need to send a clear message to all abusers: this will not be tolerated.”

He added that no one has the right to take another’s life, regardless of the circumstances.

“Anger is never an excuse for murder.”