Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has condemned the ongoing surge of domestic violence in Limpopo after a father, who serves as a SANDF soldier, allegedly shot and killed his son.
"I once more call upon families to seek professional help when experiencing domestic challenges instead of resorting to violence."
According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the shocking incident occurred on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at around 6:17 a.m., when a 53-year-old father allegedly shot and killed his 17-year-old son at Ha Mutsha village, Tshitandani, in the Levubu policing area under the Vhembe District.
Ledwaba said police in Levubu responded to reports of a shooting in which the man allegedly killed his son before attempting to take his own life by turning a 9mm pistol on himself at his home in Ha Mutsha, Tshitandani.
“The police quickly went to the scene and on arrival they found a male lying on the ground in a pool of blood and was still alive and next to him there was a handgun. Several cartridges were found around him.”
Ledwaba added that police, upon further investigation, discovered the 17-year-old lying on a bed with gunshot wounds to the head.
“It is further alleged that the 53-year-old suspect, who is a SANDF member stationed outside Mookgophong, was taken to hospital for medical treatment under police guard,” he said.
Police said the motive behind the incident is currently unknown, but domestic violence cannot be ruled out, as both the father and son were living in the same household.
The Star
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