By Anita Dangazele
- The man shot his pregnant girlfriend at a tavern, then went home and killed his wife while she slept with grandchildren nearby.
- His body was later found in an open field with a pistol beside him, as police confirmed he had died from shooting himself.
A Lusikisiki man who killed both his wife and pregnant girlfriend has been found dead in an open field, with police saying he took his own life.
The 42-year-old allegedly shot his 22-year-old girlfriend, Dolly Voxeka, at a local tavern after she tried to break up with him. He then drove to his home in Unity Park village in the early hours of Tuesday morning and shot his wife while she lay sleeping in bed with her grandchildren.
Police were searching for the man when his body was discovered in Gqathula locality, about 10 kilometres outside Lusikisiki. A 9mm pistol was found next to him.
Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that the suspect had used the family vehicle to flee the murder scenes. It was later found abandoned. A large-scale manhunt was launched, and it was community members who tipped off police after finding the man’s body in an open field.
Gantana said early signs suggest he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police have opened an inquest docket to determine the full details of what happened.
Voxeka’s mother told Newzroom Afrika that her daughter had two young children and was pregnant with a third when her life was cut short.
“She told him she wanted to break up with him, and he got angry. He said she couldn’t leave him because he was already unhappy at home because of their affair. He then threatened to kill her,” she said.
The young woman ran to a tavern to escape, but he followed her and shot her there.
After the killings, the man returned home and shot his wife in bed, while his grandchildren were beside her.
The man’s daughter, Naledi Madikizela, expressed her pain in a Facebook post: “A father is supposed to protect his home, his children and his wife, but you FAILED US. You did the opposite.”
Pictured above: The home of the 22-year-old woman.
Image source: Sipha Kema
