Elmon Tshikhudo
An assistant teacher has been stabbed to death by a teenage burglar she discovered in her home after returning from work on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old woman arrived home early from her job at a local school in Tshakhuma outside Louis Trichardt in Limpopo.
She found that the door to her house was slightly ajar, and when she searched for her spare keys which she keeps hidden outside, they were nowhere to be found.
She then went inside and found a 15-year-old boy in her house. It is believed that a struggle then ensued.
She was stabbed several times, and her body was discovered shortly afterwards by her son.
He was shocked to find the alleged killer still in the house, and managed to alert several members of the community who were close by before he too could be attacked.
The police were called and the alleged killer was later arrested.
The deceased’s uncle who was one of the first to arrive at the scene said he was horrified by what he saw.
“She had stab wounds all over her body and even her eyes,” he said.
“It appears the perpetrator was a friend of the deceased’s son. The boy knew where the keys were kept and was trying to steal when he was surprised by the arrival of the deceased.”
The uncle said the suspect had earlier called the woman’s son and asked him to call him immediately when he left school.
“This is clearly a housebreaking gone wrong,” he said.
“We found three big bloodied knives which were also broken. It is clear that he wanted her dead to conceal evidence.”
He said the deceased was an only child whose father was a policeman.
“Her mother is not coping and she had to be rushed to hospital after collapsing on hearing the news,” said the uncle.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the arrest.
“The suspect will be processed in accordance with the Child Justice Act while investigations are continuing,” he said.
