Search for man linked to his wife’s fatal stabbing

KOMANI police have launched a manhunt for a man suspected of stabbing to death his wife in Mlungisi location in Komani on Friday.

Police spokeswoman Captain Namhla Mdleleni said it was alleged that Phathwa Bunu, 36, was seen in front of the house in Mzimkulu Street during the early hours of Friday, waiting for his wife Vuyokazi Ngqula, 40, to arrive.

“After she was dropped off by a certain vehicle, both the suspect and the victim entered the house. After some time neighbours heard the woman screaming. Police were summoned and on arrival they found the woman dead. She had injuries to her body,” Mdleleni said, adding the man fled on foot before the police arrived.

“Mlungisi police have opened a murder docket and no arrest has been made yet. We urge anyone with information to please contact Mlungisi police on 045 808 1000 or 086 001 0111,” she said.

A witness, Babalwa Mkhosana, who was Ngqula’s landlord, said on Thursday Ngqula had told her that she was stressed as she was in a process of separating from her husband, who lived in Knysna.

“She said her husband threatened her. She told me if he asked if she was living here, I must tell him that she moved a long time ago,” she said.

Mkhosana said on Friday she heard a knock on the door and woke up to find out it was Ngqula’s husband.

“I told her Vuyokazi was no longer living here, but he looked at the flat and saw her stuff. As we were talking a car stopped and Vuyokazi got out of the car.

“He approached her trying to pull something out of his bag. I told him not to do that and he listened,” Mkhosana said.

She said the husband asked for a few minutes with Ngqula. “In Vuyokazi’s room, I could hear her scream. He looked out of the window and told me that they were talking and there was nothing to panic about.”

She said after noticing the silence, she called a neighbour and they went to check on Ngqula’s room and found her lying on a pool of blood.

“She was stabbed in her chest and thighs.” —