By Doreen Mokgolo
For 30 years, Tinny Nkgudi endured all forms of abuse at the hands of her husband; on Monday morning, he allegedly killed her.
Then to stop his seven-year-old grandson from screaming for help, the suspect locked him in a wardrobe and threatened to kill him.
It is alleged that the 53-year-old assaulted Tinny with a panga and spade, defacing her and breaking both her arms and some of her teeth.
Later that day, the deceased’s daughter, Carol Modjadji, became worried when she found the house locked from the outside upon returning home from working the night shift.
“I tried calling my mother but her phone was off. I was in a panic, and with the help of my neighbours we decided to break the padlock to force entry.
“I was worried about my son’s safety and immediately ran to the bedroom. He jumped out of the wardrobe, petrified,” she told Scrolla.Africa.
Carol said her son told her that his grandfather assaulted his grandmother with a spade and threatened to kill him, too.
“I found my mother lying unconscious in a pool of her own blood. She was later declared dead by paramedics,” she added.
Carol said she grew up living in fear that one day her father would kill her mother.
The family has lost count of the number of protection orders her mother had against her father.
He was arrested for assaulting Tinny in May, but was released in September.
Carol added that family and friends managed to convince her mother to allow him back home in October, citing that he had learned his lesson. But just weeks after his return, he started abusing her again.
EMPD spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Kelebogile Thepa said the suspect was arrested on Monday following a tip-off about his hiding place.
“A cell phone belonging to the deceased was found in his possession and he voluntarily pointed out the clothes he was wearing during the assault, stashed under the bed.
“The suspect has been arrested and will appear before the Tsakane Magistrate’s Court soon,” she said.
Pictured above: Tinny Nkgudi
Image source: Supplied
