Woman killed ‘for funeral funds’

A Dutywa family was dealt a double blow when a 70-yearold woman was killed, allegedly by her stepson, immediately after a relative’s funeral on Wednesday.

According to Butterworth police spokesperson Captain Jackson Manatha, a 42-year-old man stabbed his stepmother after she refused to give him money that had been donated for the funeral by mourners and community members from the village.

Manatha said: “It is alleged that the suspect and [the stepmother] had a misunderstanding over a monetary issue on Wednesday evening at Laza Makaka locality in Nqabarha village.”

Manatha could not provide details on the amount of money. However, he said the man became angry and stabbed the woman in her upper body after she refused to hand him the money.

“She died at the scene. A relative of hers phoned the Dutywa police and informed them about the death.

“The police rushed to the scene and arrested the suspect,” Manatha said.

The man is due to appear before the Dutywa magistrate’s court on Friday on a murder charge.

Manatha said: “The identity of the deceased is still being withheld until all her relatives are officially informed of her death.”

Butterworth cluster commander Brigadier Ngangema Xakavu condemned the killing of an elderly woman.