Four arrested in chilling murders of Limpopo woman and her little daughter

The brutal murder of a 34-year-old Limpopo woman and her 2-year-old daughter has taken a chilling turn, as police confirm the arrest of four suspects in the case. 

Police have taken two men into custody, 43-year-old Tshilidzi Phalandwa and 32-year-old Balangani Sedzani Tshivhombedze, in connection with the killing of a woman, 34, and her two-year-old daughter. The pair had been missing since May 19, and a thorough police investigation led to the suspects being identified and arrested.

According to Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, a task team comprising members from the SAPS Thohoyandou Intervention Unit, local detectives, and the Provincial Missing Persons Unit acted on reliable information on July 30. This led them to the tragic discovery of the woman and her daughter’s bodies. 

He added that during the process, it was also discovered that the bodies were without heads. More disturbingly, one of the suspects is alleged to be the boyfriend of the deceased.

The case took a chilling turn on August 1, when police apprehended a 55-year-old suspect in Hlabeni Block F, within the Saselamani policing area. Investigators then followed further leads to Muraga village in the Thohoyandou precinct, where they arrested a 38-year-old traditional healer believed to be linked to the crime.

“The Traditional Healer was allegedly found in possession of the missing heads of the two victims and was also placed under arrest,” said Ledwaba.

He added that Phalandwa and Tshivhombedze appeared in Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on August 1, were remanded in custody, and the case was postponed for further investigation until Tuesday, August 12.

Meanwhile, a 55-year-old man and a 38-year-old traditional healer are expected to appear in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on August 4, facing murder charges.

Ledwaba added that an additional charge of possession of human tissue will be brought against the traditional healer.

Police investigations are ongoing as four suspects remain in custody for the gruesome double murder of a Limpopo mother and her young daughter.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za