A 39-year-old man from the Eastern Cape handed himself to police in Kwadwesi, Gqeberha on Tuesday 12 July 2022, after he allegedly beat his girlfriend with a plank to death.
The suspect was arrested for murder and will appear before the Brighton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
It is understood that the couple was drinking together on Monday night and later had a disagreement which resulted in a heated argument at around 10pm and 11pm. The suspect allegedly hit his girlfriend, who is identified as 40-year-old Nompumelelo Mabhoza with a plank on her head.
“After the brawl, they both went to bed. The suspect left the house on Tuesday morning and when he later returned at approximately 6:30pm, he noticed that she was still in bed but was not responding.
“The suspect accompanied by his brother reported the incident at Kwadwesi. Police went to a house in Mdwara Street, Govan Mbeki where they found her dead with visible injuries to her face,” said Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, the police spokesperson.
In a similar incident, two brothers, aged 22 and 16, as well as their two teenage friends, allegedly killed the sibling’s mother’s boyfriend in February by beating him with bottles and sticks. They appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The siblings were denied bail and will remain in custody while their co-accused are out on bail. The State said post-mortem results which were outstanding have now been completed.
The four suspects are charged with the murder of Mfano Mandana. The incident took place on 10th street in Clermont. It is alleged that the incident happened in the presence of witnesses. The man was beat to death. The matter was adjourned to August to allow further investigations.