Teacher shot dead, husband critical
Man sent photo of dead body to family members
AN EAST London teacher has been shot and killed, allegedly by her husband, who then turned the gun on himself but survived.
Nomahomba Tsako, a teacher at Makinana Public Primary School in Duncan Village, died on the scene.
Her husband Mziyanda Mqingwana’s life hangs by a thread at Frere Hospital after Friday’s shooting at their Amalinda home.
Tsako’s family said they were aware the couple had some problems, but her death had shocked them as they had never suspected that Mqingwana, whom they described as a “cool guy”, would ever kill her.
Tsako’s 85-year-old mother is still receiving medical attention after she collapsed on hearing the news of the death of her daughter. Her family members said that the incident happened around 8.30pm on Friday.
They also alleged that after killing her, Mqingwana took pictures of Tsako’s lifeless body and sent them to her relatives and colleagues.
“He also called some of her family members telling them that he had killed her,” said a family member who requested to remain anonymous.
The couple had another house in Ngqushwa, where the husband had been spending much of his time.
“We have been told that on this day [Friday] he arrived at the Amalinda house and locked the door with his wife inside.
“He then killed her,” said the family member.
Another family member, who also asked not to be identified, said the police had been trying to force their way into the house after Mqingwana arrived around midnight and shot himself.
“According to the information I received from the neighbours, they heard gunshots and the couple was inside the house,” he said.
He added that when they eventually got into the house after the police had left “there was a big clot of blood on the floor and there were blood spills on the walls of the bathroom”.
The family member said the couple had been experiencing problems.
“But we never thought things would get this far,” he said.
Her cousin-sister said that after Mqingwana killed Tsako, he took a picture of her body and sent it to her relatives and colleagues.
“He then called his older brother to come to the house.
“When they arrived, we were told, he told them to wait outside near the bathroom window because the was something he had to do. Then he shot himself,” he added.
Mqingwana refused to open for the police when they arrived.
Tsako’s relatives described their brother-in-law as a nice person. “He was a cool guy. We did not expect this from him.
“We are all shocked,” one.
She said they were angry because they wanted to bury their Tsako family member at her birth family home in Port Elizabeth instead of her matrimonial home.
“But her children refused and we had to respect their wishes,” she said.
Police spokesman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said they were investigating a case of murder.
“The suspect in still in serious condition in hospital,” she said. Mqala said the deceased was shot in her upper body.
“The paramedics declared the woman dead at the crime scene,” she said. — said