Tragic Murder-Suicide Shocks Polokwane Community

POLOKWANE – The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mokwakwaila and Tzaneen are investigating a harrowing case involving the murder of a 23-year-old woman and the subsequent suicide of the 41-year-old suspect in Polokwane.

According to South African Police Service, On Saturday, November 25, 2023, around 17:40, the police received a distressing call from community members about a deceased person at Ga Femane village. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of an African woman, identified as Maleboho Sebihleni, lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds to her neck.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim had been in contact with her boyfriend, Sello Manyama, earlier that day. They reportedly spent time together in Giyani town before heading to Sebihleni’s residence in Ga Femani village, where Manyama allegedly stabbed her and fled the scene. The victim’s sister was later informed of the tragic murder.

In a shocking turn of events, on Sunday, November 26, 2023, Manyama’s lifeless body was found hanging at Khebabane village. It is alleged that after committing the murder, he visited another girlfriend’s residence in Khebabane village, where he resided. He then hanged himself with an electric cable in a separate house on the same property while his second girlfriend was asleep in another house.

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, condemned the gender-based violence incident and urged the community to take proactive steps to end such violence. The police are continuing their investigation into both the murder and inquest cases.

This incident has left the local community in shock, highlighting the ongoing challenges of gender-based violence and the importance of addressing this societal issue.