LIMPOPO – A manhunt is underway for an assailant who murdered three people, a grandmother and her two grandchildren in Senwabarwana.
The bodies of the 67-year-old Paulina Mafifi, Nathaniel Mafifi (9) and Selaelo Mafifi (7) were found by neighbours in their home at Maokeng village in Senwabarwana on Tuesday, 7 July.
In a statement, Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo says the neighbours had gone to investigate after no movement had been seen in the house since the morning and cellphone calls went unanswered. The bodies were discovered and the police were notified.
On arrival at the scene, police discovered three bodies lying in a pool of blood. All victims had gaping wounds, says Mojapelo.
Preliminary police investigations revealed that the assailant might have committed the murders Monday night or early Tuesday morning. He added that the 29-year-old mother of the two children, was reportedly not in the house during the incident.
Limpopo Community Safety MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has expressed her shock at the brutal murder and called on the community to help the police bring the person responsible to book.
“We strongly condemn the scourge against vulnerable groups and at the same time we plead with community members to work with the police. The perpetrators of these crimes live among us, and assist us with information that can lead to arrests before they go for their next victim,” Ramakhanya says.
Mojapleo says the motive for the murders is not known at this stage and police investigations still continue.
Three counts of murder are being investigated. The police appeals to anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the killer, to contact Detective WO Albert Manaka at 082 414 6634, the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or their nearest police station.