KEY POINTS
- A Thohoyandou man was arrested after his niece’s death.
- Police warn against rising family violence in South Africa.
- A father received 15 years for his daughter’s murder.
A 33-year-old man has been taken into custody by Thohoyandou police in the Vhembe area after his 16-year-old niece passed away after a fight at their house on Tuesday night.
Teen dies after confrontation with uncle in Thohoyandou
Col. Malesela Ledwaba, a police spokesperson, stated that the suspect had been looking for his niece, who had been absent from home for a number of days. There was an altercation when she came back.
The suspect and victim got into a heated argument when they arrived at the victim’s house. Then he hit her with something. After the victim fell while attempting to flee, her uncle brought her back inside, according to Ledwaba.
The girl was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics after her mother summoned emergency medical services. The uncle was taken into custody right away.
Lt. Gen. Thembi Hadebe, the provincial police commissioner, denounced the act.
The fact that the offender is a family member—an uncle who ought to have been advising and shielding the victim—is startling and unsettling. According to Hadebe, this tragedy emphasizes how vital it is to address and prevent violence in families and communities.
Father sentenced to 15 years for daughter’s murder
In a another case, a father who killed his daughter, age 24, was given a 15-year prison sentence by the Witbank Regional Court.
On January 21, 2025, Fanie Petros Mtshali, 60, was condemned for an event that happened at Phola, close to Witbank, in September 2022.
Lt. Col. Jabu Ndubane, a police spokesperson, stated that Mtshali’s daughter got home late on September 10, 2022, at approximately 11 p.m. A furious argument ensued after her father approached her and chastised her.
According to Iol, the daughter fell onto a television set after the father hit her. Sadly, she passed away at the spot from her wounds,” Ndubane stated.
Police and emergency medical personnel arrived, but the victim was declared dead.
The following day, Mtshali was taken into custody and accused of murder. He was held in custody during the trial after being refused bail. In accordance with the Firearms Control Act, the court also ruled that he was unsuitable to own a firearm.
