Family tragedy: Man allegedly shoots wife and child, then himself

The shooting occurred on Tuesday night in Verena, where officers responded to reports of a domestic dispute at around 11pm.

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said authorities were alerted after neighbours reported an argument between a couple.

“According to a neighbour, she and others were outside when the suspect became involved in a heated argument with his wife,” Ndubane said.

Ndubane said the man allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot his 43-year-old wife and their three-year-old son during the confrontation.

“The suspect allegedly drew a firearm and shot his wife and their son,” Ndubane said, adding that the man also fired shots at several other people who were nearby.

Police said that a neighbour, the suspect’s sister-in-law and his wife’s uncle were among those wounded in the shooting and were taken to hospital for medical treatment.

After the attack, the man allegedly fled the scene with his six-year-old daughter, who had also been shot. She later managed to escape and seek help from her grandmother and was taken to hospital where she was reported to be in stable condition.

Police later traced the suspect to his parents’ home in another section of the area.

“Upon arrival, officers found the suspect inside his vehicle with a gunshot wound and showing no signs of life,” Ndubane said.

Authorities believe the man used his personal firearm during the incident, and the weapon has since been seized as part of the investigation.

Police have opened cases of two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder and an inquest, while investigations continue. The motive behind the killings remains unclear. “The motive for the incident is still under investigation,” Ndubane said.

The acting provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, condemned the incident, describing the killings as a tragic and senseless act of violence.