NELSPRUIT - Matsobane Seema (61) appeared in the Mbibana Magistrate's Court today 04 January 2023 where he was remanded in custody for charges of attempted murder, arson and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The suspect handed himself over to Vaalbank Police Station yesterday, 03 January 2023.
According to the report, the couple was staying in the victim's house together with the victim’s sister. It is alleged that on 23 December 2022 at around 02:00, the suspect allegedly had an argument with his 59-year-old female partner, which unfortunately turned ugly and the victim reportedly tried to expel him from the house. He allegedly refused to leave and they then slept in separate bedrooms for that night. The victim reportedly slept in the same bedroom with her. Shortly the suspect allegedly went into the victim's room and stabbed her multiple times with a knife on her right upper body, then further struck her on the head with a garden fork. When the sister tried to intervene, the suspect allegedly pushed her away until she was powerless. Then the suspect also poured the victim with boiling water. As if that was not enough, the suspect set the house on fire whilst all doors were locked with the two siblings still inside. He then fled the scene. The victims screamed for help and community members came to their rescue where they managed to breakdown the burglar proofs of the bedroom windows in order to set them free from the flames. The two victims were taken to hospital for medical attention whilst the Fire and Rescue workers managed to extinguish the fire. While police were conducting their investigation and in pursuit of the man behind this tragedy, the suspect reportedly handed himself over to the authorities hence his arrest.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the arrest. The General is however disappointed that after many occasions police are warning people to say no to Gender Based Violence, but a senior citizen who is supposed to shed light to young people is caught in the same act.
Source: South African Police Service