Africa-Press – South-Africa. A Mpumalanga family with children aged three, eight and 10, and a 71-year-old woman died in their Piet Retief home on Thursday evening after they were allegedly shot by their relative.
Spokesperson to the MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Moeti Mmusi said police investigations revealed that the alleged murderer was related to the four deceased as the woman’s grandson.
Mmusi said the four bodies were discovered by a male relative who forced entry into the house upon knocking at the door and not getting a response.
“The deceased include a 71-year-old woman believed to be the grandmother to the suspect and three children aged three, eight and ten. They all succumbed to gunshot wounds. The fifth victim is receiving medical attention in the hospital for gunshot wounds,” said Mmusi.
The woman in the hospital is 22 years old and is believed to be a sibling of the man who discovered the dead bodies.
Mmusi said a 32-year-old man alleged to be the murderer is expected to appear in Piet Retief’s Magistrate Court on 19 June.
“He was arrested in the areas of Piet Retief. Police found him with ammunition,” said Mmusi.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe, extended his condolences to the deceased’s family and wished the injured woman a speedy recovery.
“We cannot afford to constantly lose lives like this. What is even more painful is that defenceless children are murdered by those who are supposed to protect them.
“We are once more appealing to families to seek help and utilise services of government social workers, which are readily available in all areas in the province,” said Shongwe.
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