A profound sense of shock and sorrow has enveloped the small community of Luve following the deaths of a local taxi driver and his girlfriend in what has been described as a murder-suicide.
Mandla Gama, a 27-year-old taxi driver based at the Luve Taxi Rank, would often visit his 37-year-old deceased partner, who was a hairdresser renting a flat in the area.
According to police, he allegedly assaulted the woman with a bushknife several times on the neck and hands before disposing of her body in the Mbuluzi River.
He is then believed to have taken his own life by ingesting a poisonous substance.
The incident is understood to have occurred at around 11:15pm on Thursday.
The woman’s name has not been made public as her family could not be contacted at the time of reporting.
Those close to both individuals, including fellow taxi drivers at the rank, have been left devastated by the loss of two lives.
George Gama, the older brother of the deceased man, expressed his profound disbelief.
He stated that there had been no indication of any distress.
Mandla had gone to work as usual that Thursday morning and returned home without showing any signs of concern.
Later that evening, he recalled having received a call from his brother’s employer, who relayed that Mandla had contacted him to say he had killed his girlfriend and intended to end his own life.
When George tried to reach his brother by telephone, there was no answer.
Upon checking the vehicle at the family homestead, George discovered his brother in the boot, where it became apparent that he had consumed a poisonous substance.
He immediately alerted their mother and uncle, and with the help of a neighbour, the family rushed him to hospital.
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He described the experience as deeply traumatic, adding that he had not slept since the events unfolded.
The elder brother further noted that Mandla had been facing financial difficulties, and the family itself had limited resources.
He recalled that only the previous weekend the pair had travelled together in the same vehicle while attending the burial of a family uncle.
As the investigation continues, the family has appealed for any assistance that members of the public may be able to offer.
Contributions may be directed to George Gama on 7671 1366.
Acting Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident.
This heart-rending event occurs against a backdrop of deeply concerning patterns in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Research has documented 42 cases of intimate partner femicide-suicide between 2009 and 2022, resulting in 91 fatalities and highlighting the intersection of relationship conflict, often linked to suspicions of infidelity and socio-economic pressures, with subsequent suicide by the perpetrator.
Broader data from the Royal Eswatini Police Service and the World Health Organization indicates that suicide rates in the country remain alarmingly high, with the kingdom ranking second globally.
Between 2022 and 2024 alone, 486 completed suicides were recorded, 80% of which involved men and the majority of victims aged 25 and above.
Poisoning accounted for more than half of these cases.
Across Africa, estimates suggest that the region recorded the highest number of intimate partner and family-related femicides in 2024, at approximately 22 600 cases, underscoring a continental challenge that demands sustained attention.
