61-year-old man arrested for attempted murder

Matsobane Seema, 61, was remanded in custody after making an appearance in the Mbibana Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, on charges of attempted murder, arson, and assault with the purpose to cause great bodily damage.

Man arrested for attempted murder after stabbing his partner

On Tuesday, 3 January 2023, the suspect turned himself over to the Vaalbank Police Station.

The victim’s sister and the couple were reportedly both residing in the victim’s home.

The suspect and his 59-year-old girlfriend are said to have had an argument on 23 December 2022, around 2:00.

The dispute allegedly grew violent, and the victim sought to kick the suspect out of the house.

He allegedly refused to go, so they spent the rest of the night in separate bedrooms.

Shortly thereafter, the suspect entered the victim’s room and repeatedly stabbed her on her right upper body before striking her in the head with a garden fork.

Suspect sets house alight with victims still inside

The suspect is accused of pushing the sister away when she sought to step in, rendering her helpless.

The victim was then also poured with boiling water by the suspect.

The suspect also lit the house on fire with the two siblings still inside and all the doors closed.

Community members responded to the victims’ cries for assistance and helped them escape the flames.

They removed the burglar bars from the bedroom windows.

While the fire was being put out by the Fire and Rescue personnel, the two victims were transferred to a hospital for treatment.

The suspect apparently turned himself into the authorities, leading to his arrest, as police were completing their investigation and searching for the person responsible for this tragedy.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the arrest.

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