Two sons hacked to death by their father in South Africa

Two sons who were allegedly killed by their father with a machete before he killed himself have been laid to rest in South Africa’s Limpopo province

On Tuesday morning, September 26, 2023, the bodies of Asakundwi Mbulaheni, age 7, and Uhone Mbulaheni, age 4, were found in the bushes, at Mapakophele Hamlet in Mphephu,

The two sons were found nearby, lying on the ground with open wounds on their bodies, while the father, Thilivhali Mbulaheni, 41, was discovered hanging by his neck from a tree.

The mother of the children lived in Mapakophele Village, in close proximity to Tshituni Village, where the father and one of the boys resided.

“They separated, and he came and took the other son during the heritage long weekend. I assumed he wanted to spend the long weekend with his children,” a source said.

According to the witness, the father allegedly threatened to murder himself and their sons in a message to the mother.

“Somehow, she took the message lightly,” the source said.

The deaths were discovered by locals around 6.30 in the morning, according to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, a spokesman for the Limpopo police, who claimed officers were sent to the area.

“On their arrival, they found the man hanging on a tree while the lifeless bodies of his sons were found in the nearby bushes. Police also confiscated a panga at the scene, believed to have been used to kill the children. Police have opened two counts of murder and an inquest docket,” said Ledwaba.

Domestic violence cannot be ruled out, according to Ledwaba, even though the incident’s motivation is still under investigation by the police.

According to Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe, commissioner of the Limpopo police, communities are reminded not to use extreme violence when faced with domestic or interpersonal problems.

“As the province is presently combating the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide, incidents of this nature where parents resort to harming their children and ending innocent lives.”