Matatiele couple in suspected murder-suicide

THE daughter and son-in-law of Eastern Cape SACP deputy secretary Philip Sisimone Rakaibe were found dead in their home in Matatiele last week.

The bodies of Rakaibe’s daughter Lerato, 36, and husband Monde Mpengesi, 41, were discovered on Thursday lying in a pool of blood in their home while their two young children were in the house.

A shocked Rakaibe said yesterday the young couple was discovered with bullet wounds to their heads, in what is suspected to be a murder-suicide.

Rakaibe said the family believed his daughter’s husband shot her before turning the gun on himself.

He said the family was not aware of any domestic issues.

The couple’s death was confirmed yesterday by Maluti police spokesman Raphael Motloung, who said the bodies were found at around 8am on Thursday in the diningroom of their Lugada village home.

Motloung said a gun suspected to have been used in the shooting was found at the scene.

“When the bodies were discovered, the husband was lying dead on the sofa with a gun wound to the head, next to his right ear,” he said.

“The husband was holding a gun in his hand, while his wife was found lying on the floor with two gunshot wounds, one in her cheek and another in her shoulder.”

Motloung said the motive for the shooting was unknown and that police were investigating.

He said the couple’s two children, a seven-year-old boy and a 14-month-old infant, were in the house when the double shooting took place and they had been taken for trauma counselling.

Rakaibe said both children were staying with him and his wife. He said they had been completely shattered by what they had experienced.

“The older one was staying with us but was with the parents on the day of the incident.

“We got worried when he did not pitch up for school and when all our phone calls were not answered,” he said.

“We then went to their home and discovered them in a pool of blood. The older child opened the door and he was shivering and completely devastated.”

SACP provincial spokesman Siya Mdodi said the party had received “with a great sense of sadness the news of the sudden passing of Rakaibe’s daughter and son-in-law”.

“We convey our heartfelt condolences to the Mpengesi and Rakaibe families as we wish them strength to go through this difficult period.”

Rakaibe’s daughter was a teacher at Manguzela Junior Secondary School, while her husband worked for the health department’s emergency services.

Her memorial service will be held at the school today, while their joint funeral will be held at their home on Saturday.

The husband was holding a gun in his hand, while his wife was found lying on the floor