A quiet Friday morning at Motshane was shattered by grief and shock after a 30-year-old woman was brutally murdered in a domestic violence incident, allegedly by her husband, who is now on the run.
The incident happened at around 7am yesterday.
The atmosphere at the homestead was heavy and emotional as family members sat scattered around the yard, some wailing uncontrollably while others stared into space, visibly struggling to process the loss. Neighbours gathered in small groups, speaking in hushed tones as police officers continued with investigations.
According to family members and sources, the suspect, Thulani Ginindza (40) of Motshane, originally from Magubheleni had reportedly been away from home for several months without return. He came home for a day, went back to his workplace at Mbeka, Mankayane and is believed to have returned home undetected on New Year’s Eve.
Family members further revealed that the couple had experienced ongoing domestic challenges, adding that their disagreements often escalated into physical fights, some of which ended with the matter being reported to the police.
On New Year’s Day, the couple’s two children, aged 13 and four, reportedly found their father asleep inside the house and questioned him about their mother Princess Johnson’s whereabouts, as she was not at home when he arrived. Family members said Johnson was last seen leaving the homestead on Wednesday afternoon, and her prolonged absence had already raised concerns.
A 30-year-old woman was brutally murdered in Motshane after being stabbed more than 16 times. Police have launched a manhunt for her husband, who is on the run.
According to sources, early on Friday morning, the suspect took the children to a nearby forest to collect firewood. When they returned home, Johnson was still not there.
It was further stated that one of the children’s cell phones was used to call the woman and they requested her to return home.
Sources indicated that the suspect allegedly instructed the 13-year-old child to tell Johnson that the younger sibling was not feeling well, which was the reason she returned to the homestead.
Sources further stated that when Johnson later arrived; she went into the house and was followed inside by the suspect moments later. It was at that point that a heated confrontation reportedly broke out between the two.
Neighbours and family members told this publication that loud arguments were heard coming from inside the house, followed by Johnson crying out for help.
According to sources, the 13-year-old child ran to a nearby spaza shop to raise an alarm, where he found a community police member.
The community police rushed to the homestead and upon approaching the yard, he allegedly came across the suspect carrying an unidentified item. The man reportedly fled immediately.
The community police and the teenager rushed into the house, only to find that Johnson had already succumbed to her injuries.
According to information gathered at the scene, she had been stabbed more than 16 times and her throat was slit.
The screams caused panic among the children, particularly the four-year-old, who was said to have witnessed the stabbing and cried uncontrollably after the incident.
As police officers later removed the body from the house and placed it into their van, scenes of raw emotion unfolded. Some family members broke down and cried uncontrollably, while neighbours stood silently, visibly shaken by the brutality of the killing.
A neighbour described the incident as deeply traumatising for the community, particularly the children, saying the horrific events would leave lasting psychological scars.
He stated that the children would carry disturbing images of their father going forward.
Sources further indicated that a search party was later dispatched to look for the suspect in nearby mountains, but he could not be found.
Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident, stating that police had opened a murder case and investigations were ongoing.
Police, through their official Facebook page, circulated an image of the suspect, who was identified as Thulani Ginindza (40) of Motshane, originally from Magubheleni.
The police appealed to members of the public who may have information that could assist in locating the suspect to contact the nearest police station or the numbers provided on the Royal Eswatini Police Service social media platforms.
