A 33-year-old man was arrested for the m8rder of his girlfriend and the r3pe of her 16-year-old daughter in South Africa.
The suspect allegedly m8rdered the 36-year-old woman and disposed of her body in a pit toilet at a local school in Vhembe district, Limpopo.
The suspects appeared in Tshitale Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
The incident, which has shocked the Vhembe community, occurred on Sunday, August 10.
Police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said on Sunday at about 2am the suspect allegedly woke the teenager, claiming they needed to search for her mother at taverns in Mundzedzi village.
Ledwaba said after failing to locate the mother, the suspect led the minor to bushes next to the cemetery in Vleifontein where he allegedly r3ped her.
“The suspect instructed the traumatised teenager to return home. The victim immediately reported the r3pe to a community member, who contacted police,” he said.
The man was arrested after a case of r3pe was opened and a manhunt launched.
Ledwaba said during questioning on Monday, investigators discovered the suspect had allegedly m8rdered the missing woman and disposed of her body in a pit toilet at a school.
“The body was retrieved with assistance from relevant stakeholders, and the suspect faces an additional charge of m8rder,” he said.
The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, August 14.
“The name of the accused (stepfather) is concealed to protect the minor victim. The accused abandoned his bail. It is alleged that on 10 August 2025, the accused woke the minor victim, claiming they needed to search for her mother at the village. The woman (36) was last seen on Saturday, 09 August. After failing to locate the mother, the accused led the minor to the bushes next to the local cemetery, where he allegedly r3ped her. The accused then instructed the teenager to return home,” the statement read.
“The victim immediately reported the rape to a community member, who contacted police, and the accused was arrested. On 11 August 2025, police officers discovered that the suspect had allegedly m8rdered the missing woman on 09 August 2025 and disposed of her body in a pit toilet at a local school. The matter is postponed to 11 September 2025 for further investigations. Suspect remains in custody.”
Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe expressed outrage at the incident, particularly during Women’s Month.
“This crime represents the worst of gender-based violence. A man who was supposed to protect his family instead became their worst nightmare. That he would murder a woman and rape her teenage daughter shows the depths of depravity we are fighting,” said Hadebe.
