Central SA
Children left traumatised after father kills wife, himself─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 12:47 Tue, 26 Sep 2023
“Special Task Force members, who were also mobilised in the process, tactically entered the house and managed to rescue the two little girls.”
A Free State man, who held his family hostage overnight, has left two children traumatised after murdering his wife and turning the gun on himself.
On Monday (25/9), at about 18:00, the police in Phuthaditjhaba were summoned to Mandela Park after reports of a hostage situation.
Upon their arrival, they discovered a 57-year-old man who had locked himself inside the house with his 43-year-old wife, and two children aged three and seven years. Free State police spokesperson Mahlomola Kareli said the police hostage negotiation team was summoned to the scene, as well as the Tactical Response Team.
The police hostage negotiation team was summoned to the scene. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi
He said police tried to convince the man to release his wife and children but the standoff continued throughout the night, until Tuesday at about 07:30, when the police heard two gunshots coming from inside the house.
“Special Task Force members, who were also mobilised in the process, tactically entered the house and managed to rescue the two little girls. In the other room, they discovered the wounded husband and wife in a pool of blood. Paramedics were called but they were declared dead on the scene. The Phuthaditjhaba police are investigating a case of murder.”
Kareli said the circumstances which led to the hostage drama are part of the investigation. The names of the deceased cannot be released yet, as family members are still to be informed, and to formally identify them.
