NELSPRUIT — The South African Police Service in Mpumalanga has condemned the horrific killing of 32-year-old Lucia Thembisile Mashiyane and her two young children, seven-year-old Bokamoso and four-year-old Karabo Ngele, by the husband and father in a suspected familicide driven by anger. The bodies were discovered charred inside a vehicle at Zithabiseni bridge near Kwaggafontein in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality on Friday, October 24. The 37-year-old suspect later died by suicide at his grandparents' home in Boukehouthoek.
The incident unfolded in the early hours when the suspect, reportedly enraged after a domestic dispute, doused the vehicle with petrol and set it alight with his wife and children inside. He then contacted his uncle to confess, prompting an immediate police response. Officers arrived at the bridge to find the burned-out car containing the three severely charred remains. The family had been returning from a visit when the argument escalated, leading to the fatal decision.
Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi expressed profound shock, describing the act as a "barbaric betrayal of trust." In a statement, he highlighted the devastation on the community and vowed a thorough investigation into the circumstances. Police activated a 72-hour action plan to trace the suspect, who was located foaming at the mouth at his grandparents' home. An ambulance was called, but he succumbed to apparent poisoning before treatment.
Preliminary probes suggest the suspect ingested a toxic substance in a suicide attempt following the murders. Three counts of murder and an inquest docket have been opened at Kwaggafontein SAPS. The motive appears rooted in unresolved anger from the argument, though detectives are exploring deeper family dynamics. No prior reports of domestic violence were on record, but neighbors described the couple as quiet.
The community is in mourning, with a vigil held Saturday for Lucia, a devoted mother and community volunteer, and the children, remembered for their playful spirits. Bokamoso loved soccer, while Karabo was starting school. Relatives spoke of the family's close-knit bond, shattered in an instant. "Lucia deserved better, and those kids had so much ahead," an aunt said.
Mzansi reacts with grief and calls for action on family violence. Social media posts demand mental health support and stricter intervention in domestic disputes. As autopsies proceed, the focus turns to supporting the extended family and preventing such tragedies