Man Murders Wife and Two Children Before Setting Them Ablaze in South Africa

Police in Mpumalanga, South Africa, have launched an investigation after a man brutally murdered his wife and two children before setting them on fire inside a vehicle.

The horrifying incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, October 24, 2025, in the Boekehouthoek area near Kwaggafontein.

According to police spokesperson Jabu Ndubane, the victims were identified as 32-year-old Lucia Thembisile Mahiyane and her two children, Bokamoso (7) and Karabo Ngele (4).

It was revealed that before taking his own life, the suspect confessed to his uncle that he had k!lled his wife and children by setting them ablaze inside the vehicle near the Zithabiseni Bridge area.

Police later traced the suspect to his grandparents’ home in Boekehouthoek, where he was found foaming at the mouth. An ambulance was called, but he d!ed at the scene, with preliminary investigations indicating that he had ingested poison after committing the murders.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Mpumalanga, Major-General Zeph Mkhwanazi, condemned the act in strong terms, urging individuals facing domestic issues to seek help through legal or counselling channels rather than resorting to violence.

Police have since opened three counts of murder and an inquest docket as investigations continue.