A 27-year-old Limpopo man is scheduled to appear in the Nkowankowa Magistrate’s Court on Monday on two counts of m_rder and domestic vi0lence.
His arrest came after a 23-year-old mother and her eight-month-old newborn son were discovered charred in a burned-out house in Dan Village, Ritavi, Mopani District, on Thursday. Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, a Limpopo police spokesperson, said the incident appears to be tied to domestic vi0lence.
According to police, the mother and kid visited the suspect from Mariveni Village and were pronounced dead at the spot by emergency care officials.
“The police officers responding to a report of a house fire arrived to find flames consuming the structure. Tzaneen Fire Brigade personnel extinguished the fire, revealing two bodies burnt beyond recognition,” Mashaba said.
“A preliminary investigation revealed suspicious behaviour by the 27-year-old suspect prior to the fire. Witnesses reported noticing unusual actions, including moving furniture and an unusual smell emanating from the suspect’s house. Shortly after that, they observed smoke from the house, leading to the suspect fleeing the scene.”
“Police investigation is under way to determine when and how the deceased were k!lled. The suspect is expected to appear before the Nkowankowa Magistrate’s Court on Monday, September 30, 2024,” Mashaba said.
