In one of the most shocking cases of gender-based violence, a 37-year-old man is accused of murdering his 36-year-old partner and then raping her 16-year-old daughter. The woman's body was found on Monday in a pit toilet at a local school.
The incident occurred on Saturday (Women's Day) in Munzhedzi Village. Police spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi said the suspect, Khuliso Mudau (37), had appeared in the Tshitale Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. His case was postponed to 11 September for a bail application.
According to a police press release, the victim, Lavina Machava, was last seen at a local liquor outlet, where she had an argument with Mudau. Around 02:00 the following morning, Mudau allegedly woke Machava's daughter, claiming they needed to search for her mother at local taverns. "After failing to locate the mother, the suspect led the minor to the Vleifontein bushes next to the local cemetery, where he allegedly raped her. The suspect then instructed the traumatized teenager to return home," the statement says.
The girl reported the rape to a community member, who immediately contacted the police. "A case of rape was opened and a manhunt launched, resulting in the suspect's arrest," the police said.
During questioning, investigators began to suspect Mudau had murdered Machava. Her body was recovered on Monday morning from a pit toilet at Tshiawelo Secondary School in Vleifontein, with assistance from relevant stakeholders. Children at the school were dismissed early to spare them the trauma of the discovery.
Machava's family said they were struggling to come to terms with her death. Family spokesperson Ndivhudza Malema said: "She was a woman who looked after her children and next of kin. It still hurts us how she died, because she was always happy and never argued with anyone."
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe condemned the incident, particularly as it occurred during Women's Month. "This act of horrible crime represents the worst of gender-based violence – a man who was supposed to protect his family instead became their worst nightmare. That he would murder a woman and then rape her teenage daughter shows the depths of depravity we are fighting against," said Hadebe.
She commended the swift police response and the bravery of the teenage survivor in reporting the crime.