NELSPRUIT – Today, Tuesday 29 September 2020, Mfanafuthi Damba, aged 38 appeared in absentia before the Volksrust Magistrates’ Court on allegations of domestic violence in which police rescued a 40-year-old woman, believed to be his girlfriend as he attempted to kill her. This disturbing incident occurred on last Sunday evening, at Volksrust.
Preliminary investigations suggest that on the said day, the two had an argument in their rented room in Volksrust where the man stabbed the woman. A concerned member of the public notified police about the incident and upon their arrival at the scene, they found the woman being held hostage by the suspect, who had locked her inside the house. The man refused to allow police entry and further threatened to kill her if they did not leave the scene.
Police bravely broke the door to save the woman then Damba stabbed the woman for the second time thereafter turned towards the police with a knife but, they had to defend themselves by firing a shot which hit the suspect on the leg. He was then arrested and both were taken to hospital for treatment.
Damba is facing two counts of attempted murder as well as assault with an intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The case was postponed to tomorrow, Wednesday, 30 September 2020 and the suspect was remanded in custody under police guard at the hospital.
The police have strongly condemned the incident and made a call once again to the public to refrain from using violence in resolving domestic issues. Police who attended the scene, were applauded for responding accordingly which preserved the woman’s life.
