Another family tragedy unfolded over the weekend, this time in Tswinga village outside Thohoyandou, where a 48-year-old man allegedly suffered fatal burn injuries following an altercation with his wife.
Mboniseni Hangwani, described by residents as a humble, cheerful and devoted member of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), died on Sunday, 12 July, shortly after sustaining severe burns at his home.
Local traditional leader Vhamusanda Vho Mmbangiseni Alfred Tshishonga said the incident had sent shockwaves through the village.
“I received a call from one of my headmen informing me about the incident and immediately advised him to summon an ambulance so that the injured man could be taken to the clinic,” said Tshishonga.
A short while later, however, Tshishonga received news that the man had died.
Tshishonga said he personally knew the couple and had previously intervened in their domestic disputes through the traditional court.
“We are now left wondering what went wrong and whether they returned to their old ways after that intervention. What makes this even more painful is that the children may have witnessed the incident,” he said.
He appealed to families experiencing domestic problems to seek assistance before matters spiralled out of control.
“As traditional leaders, our doors are always open. People should not suffer in silence. We also have a social worker at our local clinic who is available to assist families facing challenges,” he said.
Residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that Sunday's tragedy occurred after Hangwani returned home from an overnight church service. They claimed his wife accused him of infidelity before he was allegedly doused with a flammable substance and set alight.
Police have urged the public not to speculate while investigations continue.
Speaking with deep emotion, the deceased's younger brother, Mr Ntsieni Hangwani, said the family was devastated by the loss.
“I was at work when I received a call from local civic leaders informing me about the incident. I immediately left everything and rushed to the house. When I arrived, I found my brother's wife standing outside. As I entered the house, I found my brother trapped beneath a table. I pulled him out, only to discover that he had suffered severe burn injuries. Sadly, he later succumbed to his injuries,” he said.
Hangwani said the family believed the tragedy could have been prevented had their earlier pleas for help received the necessary intervention.
“Our hearts are torn to pieces. My brother endured a life of pain and abuse. I personally reported the domestic problems to the police on two occasions and also sought assistance from social workers, but nothing came of it. Our mother and my late brother's daughter also approached the police for help, but unfortunately no effective intervention followed. We never imagined it would end in such a tragic way,” he said.
He added that the family was awaiting the outcome of the post-mortem examination but had already made funeral arrangements.
Hangwani will be laid to rest on Saturday, 18 July 2026, at Tswinga Cemetery.
Meanwhile, the deceased’s wife, Ms Ndifelani Rachel Tshivhamdekano (45), briefly appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 14 July, on a charge of murder. The case was postponed to Friday, 17 July, for profiling and a formal bail application. She remains in custody pending her next court appearance.