An elderly Willowvale husband has been arrested after he allegedly beat his wife to death after fighting over chicken livers and a government pension payout.
Senior traditional leader Chief Zimisele Mente, who knew the couple, said they had on Monday bought a chicken after receiving their social grant payout.
“It was allegedly the chicken livers and gizzards as well as a misunderstanding between the couple over social grant money that resulted in the killing,” Mente alleged.
Police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said the suspect had demanded his wife give him the chicken livers she had cooked at their Komkhulu sub-village home in Mente near Willowvale.
“He was told that the chicken livers were not yet ready to be served,” Manatha said.
“He then went to bed and at about 1.25am (yesterday), the suspect took his stick and severely assaulted his wife on her upper body. The 67-year old (woman) died instantly,” he added.
He said the 69-year-old suspect was arrested yesterday morning and charged with murder. He is due to appear at Willowvale Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
Manatha said that the identity of the deceased was being withheld until her extended family had been informed of her death.
Community leaders and residents of Mente were shocked by the murder. Mente said the couple lived alone as their children stayed in the Western Cape.
“This was a lovely couple, very helpful to the community and they were peace-lovers, who were involved in the efforts to fight crime in the area.
“We are all devastated about this. It seems that it is just a nightmare,” Mente said.
He criticised the abuse of women, children and the elderly.
Mente said that the community was alerted to the scene after they heard screams coming from the couple’s home. But by the time they arrived it was already too late as the woman had died.
Mnquma Municipality Ward 25 Councillor Timothy Madikane, who is related to the couple, said the extended family could not believe what had happened.
“This murder has shocked everyone and we are all asking ourselves, ‘why?’” Madikane said.
The Justice Department along with SAPS members and traditional leaders will embark on a crime awareness campaign at Nqadu Great Place in Willowvale.
“Crime has gripped Willowvale. “The recent incidents of killing young girls and elderly people have come as shock,” AmaXhosa king Mpendulo Sigcawu said. “We must all join hands in the fight against crime.”
Community reacts to killing of 'peace-loving' woman over chicken livers
Senior traditional leader Chief Zimisele Mente, who knew the couple, said they had on Monday bought a chicken after receiving their social grant payout.
“It was allegedly the chicken livers and gizzards as well as a misunderstanding between the couple over social grant money that resulted in the killing,” Mente alleged.
Police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said the suspect had demanded his wife give him the chicken livers she had cooked at their Komkhulu sub-village home in Mente near Willowvale.
“He was told that the chicken livers were not yet ready to be served,” Manatha said.
“He then went to bed and at about 1.25am (yesterday), the suspect took his stick and severely assaulted his wife on her upper body. The 67-year old (woman) died instantly,” he added.
He said the 69-year-old suspect was arrested yesterday morning and charged with murder. He is due to appear at Willowvale Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
Manatha said that the identity of the deceased was being withheld until her extended family had been informed of her death.
Community leaders and residents of Mente were shocked by the murder. Mente said the couple lived alone as their children stayed in the Western Cape.
“This was a lovely couple, very helpful to the community and they were peace-lovers, who were involved in the efforts to fight crime in the area.
“We are all devastated about this. It seems that it is just a nightmare,” Mente said.
He criticised the abuse of women, children and the elderly.
Mente said that the community was alerted to the scene after they heard screams coming from the couple’s home. But by the time they arrived it was already too late as the woman had died.
Mnquma Municipality Ward 25 Councillor Timothy Madikane, who is related to the couple, said the extended family could not believe what had happened.
“This murder has shocked everyone and we are all asking ourselves, ‘why?’” Madikane said.
The Justice Department along with SAPS members and traditional leaders will embark on a crime awareness campaign at Nqadu Great Place in Willowvale.
“Crime has gripped Willowvale. “The recent incidents of killing young girls and elderly people have come as shock,” AmaXhosa king Mpendulo Sigcawu said. “We must all join hands in the fight against crime.”
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