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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Reporter—
A 22-YEAR-OLD Fort Rixon man fatally stabbed his eight-months pregnant wife and hid the body in a cave, police confirmed. Bonani Mathupha, who was employed at Kiton Farm, is on the run after allegedly killing his wife, Nomagugu Mkandla, 20, of Godlwayo Village. Family members found the murder weapon, a knife, still dripping blood at the scene of the gory killing in the couple’s bedroom hut.
They told of the horror of entering the room which they said reeked of raw flesh.
The brutal killing occurred on July 11, but a search team comprising villagers discovered Mkandla’s decomposing body 10 days later, on Tuesday.
Nomagugu’s father, Ephraim Mkandla, 51, yesterday battled raw emotions as he narrated how Bonani forced his daughter to elope in February.
“This is the most painful moment for us as family. My daughter was killed by this boy (Bonani) who came and snatched her in February while we were asleep,” he said.
Mkandla said he last saw his daughter alive in February before she ran away with her lover.
“I didn’t even know where she (Nomagugu) was until the news came to us that she was missing two weeks ago. We were shocked to learn that her body was discovered hidden in a cave yesterday.”
He said Bonani killed his daughter and dumped the body at a neighbour’s farm.
Nomagugu’s mother, Dora Standard, could hardly talk as she struggled to hold back tears. “I’m in terrible pain. What makes it worse is that the person killed my daughter who was pregnant yet he hadn’t even paid lobola or informed us that he was staying with her,” she said.
Nde Nyoni, a neighbour who was part of the search team that found Nomagugu’s body, said the body had been covered with tree leaves.
“As we combed the area, I became suspicious when I spotted a heap of tree leaves stuffed in a cave. On getting closer, I discovered there was a human body underneath,” said Nyoni.
Bonani’s cousin, Mduduzi Mathupha, who led The Chronicle news crew to the cave described the suspect as a violent person.
“It looks like Bonani had a fight with his wife during which he stabbed her with a knife before taking the body to a neighbour’s farm where he hid it in a cave,” said Mduduzi.
“He’s naturally a violent person and at one time he burnt down my hut in Sigola for no apparent reason.”
Provincial police spokesperson for Matabeleland South, Assistant Inspector Loveness Mangena, said they have since launched a manhunt for the suspect.
Ass Insp Mangena said Bonani had a long standing domestic dispute with his wife.
“The suspect was first spotted by his mother, Precious Sibanda, with blood-stained clothes. She became suspicious and asked her son about the blood but it looks like he didn’t give her a satisfactory answer before he disappeared,” said Asst Insp Mangena.
Sibanda then informed her husband, Donald Dlamini, and they went to their son’s homestead.
“When they arrived at Bonani’s homestead there was no-one and they broke down the door to the bedroom hut to gain entry. They found blood-stained clothes, blankets and a kitchen knife which was dripping blood and reported to us,” Ass Insp Mangena said.
She said the body was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for a post-mortem.
“We’re appealing to members of the public who might have information on the suspect’s whereabouts to inform us or contact any nearest police station,” she said.
Asst Insp Mangena urged people to desist from violence in the event of domestic disputes.
Online Reporter