POTCHEFSTROOM: The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, has condemned in the strongest possible terms an incident wherein a 61-year-old woman and her 5-year-old granddaughter were gruesomely murdered.
The incident was reported at New Stands Section in Ganalaagte near Delareyville. It is alleged that on Saturday, 29 January 2022 at about 06:36, Mmatiro Clementine Dithato (61) had a telephone conversation with her 21-year-old son. The deceased allegedly told her son not to come home anymore as they were supposed to go to town that morning and they were not going anymore. A few moments thereafter, the son allegedly received a text message from his mother’s phone informing him that he can come and collect money at about 09:00. At about 09:22, the son went to his mom’s house only to find that the lounge’s window pane was broken. Upon entering the house, he allegedly found his mother’s lifeless body with a multiple stab wounds and a rope around her neck lying in a pool of blood in the lounge. Furthermore, the 5-year-old girl’s body was found drowned head first in a big bucket full of water in the kitchen.
Furthermore, the son called for help and the deceased were transported to a local clinic where they were both declared dead on arrival. The motive for this attack is currently not known and no arrest made as yet.
Lieutenant General Sello Kwena said the police in the province will not be deterred in the fight against Gender Based Violence and Femicide. He urged the communities to continue working with the police in their endeavours to fight this pandemic. He concluded that the police will not rest until perpetrator/s of this heinous act are brought to book.
Investigation into the matter continues and police request anyone who may have information regarding this incident, to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Tebogo Galetlhobogwe on 078 161 7736 or 082 373 7619. Alternatively, Crime Stop can be contacted on 08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via My SAPS Application. All information received will be treated with strict confidentiality.
Source: South African Police Service