A 38-year-old man was arrested on Saturday after the lifeless body of his wife was found in a pit toilet at their Limpopo home, a day after she withdrew a domestic violence case against him.
Lendelani Nengovela’s body was found in a water-filled pit toilet in the backyard in Mangodi Ha Sidou, Limpopo, on Saturday.
Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the man called the police on Saturday and claimed that he had been searching for his wife and was surprised to find her dead in the pit toilet hole in their yard in Mangodi Ha Sidou, Venda.
“Preliminary probe conducted by the police at the scene led to the police arrest of the suspect on a charge of murder,” he said.
Mojapelo said the couple was reportedly in a “sour relationship”.
“The victim had opened a case of domestic violence against him, and he was arrested. He was out on bail and was to appear again in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court next week, however, the woman, 33, went to court on Friday, 27 January and withdrew the case,” Mojapelo said.
Provincial police commissioner General Thembi Hadebe said it seemed the woman believed her husband that he would stop abusing her once she withdrew the case.
“This is yet another incident of gender-based violence and femicide perpetrated against the vulnerable in society. The woman obviously trusted her husband that he would not again physically torment her, but she is now no more.
“We urge community members having domestic challenges to seek help and desist from resorting to violence.”
The man is expected to appear in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Source: News24, IOL, The Citizen, SABC News, image from Twitter: @SAPoliceService