Police in Limpopo have arrested a man for allegedly killing his wife after her lifeless body was found in a pit toilet at their home, days after she dropped a domestic violence case against him.
Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the man called the police on Saturday and claimed he had been looking for his wife and was shocked to find her dead in a pit latrine hole in their yard in Mangodi Ha Sidou, Venda.
“Preliminary investigations carried out by the police at the scene led to the arrest of the suspect on charges of murder,” he said.
A strained relationship
According to Mojapelo, the 33-year-old woman withdrew the case against her husband on Friday.
“The couple reportedly had a bad relationship, and the victim had opened a case of domestic violence against him and was arrested.
“The woman went to court on Friday January 27, 2023 and withdrew the case,” Mojapelo said.
also read: Limpopo woman sentenced to 27 years for arranging her husband’s murder
He is out on bail and is scheduled to appear again at the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court next week.
One of the many cases of gender-based violence
Provincial police commissioner General Thembi Hadebe said the woman believed her husband would stop abusing her if she dropped the case.
“This is yet another case of gender-based violence and femicide perpetrated against vulnerable people in the community. The woman clearly trusted her husband that he would not abuse her again, but now he has no more.
“We encourage community members who have domestic challenges to seek help and refrain from violence.”
The man was promised in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The woman has been identified as Lendelani Nengovela.
Three months ago, a well-known Limpopo comedian was sentenced to 10 years for assaulting his girlfriend since 2019.
Ntambudzeni Rasendedza, 40, better known as ‘Bundu’, was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on September 28.
The Sibasa District Court heard the first incident in August 2019, when Rasendedza attacked his girlfriend with a wooden stick and an electric cable.
He also burned plastic all over her body, before locking her in the house for two weeks.
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