The community of Maphungwane has been left in shock after a 20-year-old woman was allegedly killed by the father of her young child, who was later found dead at a sports ground.
Police have described this shocking incident as a murder-suicide.
Phindile Lenhle Ndlangamandla was hacked to death at her home in Maphungwane on Tuesday evening, according to her older sister, Sakhile Matsenjwa.
The incident occurred in full view of the deceased woman’s one-year-old son and two younger siblings, who are minors.
Narrating the incident leading to her younger sister’s death, Matsenjwa said her sister had ended the relationship several months earlier.
“After ending it, the baby daddy has been threatening to end her life. My sister has reported the threats to the police on two occasions, but no formal charges were laid against him,” she said.
The man, who lived in the area, had reportedly disappeared for a while before returning earlier in the week.
On the evening of the incident, he allegedly broke a window with a bushknife, entered the house, dragged Ndlangamandla from her bed and attacked her.
He then fled the scene and was later found dead at a nearby sports ground, having apparently ingested a poisonous substance.
Acting Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Mazwi Ndzimandze confirmed the death of a 20-year-old woman who was hacked several times by the father of her child.
He said the man was later found dead at a sports ground with a bushknife and a container with a poisonous substance.
Ndlangamandla was unemployed and did not have a funeral policy.
Her mother, who works at a textile firm, also lacked coverage for her daughter.
The family has appealed for public assistance with funeral expenses.
Those willing to help are asked to contact Matsenjwa on 7630 5103.
The family of the deceased man, Sigwane, could not be reached at the time of compiling this report.
This latest incident comes just over a month and a half after another murder-suicide in the Luve area.
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In that case, 27-year-old taxi driver Mandla Gama allegedly attacked his 37-year-old partner, a hairdresser, with a bushknife before disposing of her body in the Mbuluzi River.
He is believed to have then taken his own life by ingesting poison.
George Gama, the older brother of Mandla Gama, expressed shock at the event, saying there had been no obvious signs of distress.
He described the family’s trauma and noted his brother’s financial difficulties.
The police confirmed the details of that incident.
These tragedies occur against a backdrop of persistent challenges with gender-based violence in the country.
Research has documented dozens of intimate partner femicide-suicides in the country over the past decade, often linked to relationship breakdowns, socio-economic pressures, and other factors.
Organisations such as the Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) and the Royal Eswatini Police Service continue to record cases of domestic violence, while broader efforts focus on prevention, support for survivors, and strengthening the justice system’s response under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act.
Authorities and civil society groups regularly highlight the need for greater awareness, timely intervention in cases of reported threats, and community support for affected families.
