The community of Breyten is in shock after a father killed his three children and then killed himself last week.
As reported in the Highveld on 31 August, “ Father murders his children in Breyten”, the children were found dead in their home in Phosa Village, Breyten on Monday, 27 August.
According to Breyten Police, they were informed at 3.10pm that the three children, aged between six and 11 years old, were found dead in the house.
Sgt Shadrack Mashegoane, spokesman, said the children’s throats were cut with a sharp object and a knife and a hammer were found next to their bodies.
“Police later received information that there had been an argument at the home which led the father to fetch the children early from school and according to an SMS on the cell phone of the mother, the father said he was going to kill himself at the nearest dumping site,” Sgt Mashegoane said.
He further added that upon the officers’ search for him, he was nowhere to be found, however, police received a call that a train had hit a person.
“On arrival, family members identified the person as the father of the children and he was still alive.”
The man was transported to the Ermelo Provincial Hospital, but was later certified dead.
The maternal family of the children are still reeling from shock over the murders.
According to a family spokesman, the children’s aunt, Ms Nurse Dlamini, the tragedy has left the family devastated, with the mother, Ms Lindiwe Dlamini, being very traumatised because she discovered the bodies.
The aunt recalled how the father was a very quiet person who kept to himself, but showed signs of possessiveness towards her sister.
“They lived together and rented the house, and the father would act very stand-offish whenever any of our family members visited my sister and the children,” she said.
The family thought it was the usual spiel when the suicidal SMS came through that day because the man had on more than one occasion threatened to kill himself after arguments with the mother.
The man was from northern KwaZulu-Natal and had been in a relationship with the mother for eight years.
The couple had two children together. The third one was his stepchild.
The community of Breyten came out in numbers to support the family, holding a meeting to contribute towards funeral arrangements.
The three children were buried on Sunday, 2 September.
Breyten Police opened an inquest.
However, the small town of Breyten is still in shock over the tragedy.
Police and social workers appealed to the community to seek help when they face domestic abuse of any kind.
Also read:
https://highvelder.co.za/67851/three-children-found-dead-breyten/
