The Executive Mayor  of Sekhukhune District Municipality Minah Bahula, has expresses profound sadness following two incidents that claimed 7 lives in the Elias Motsoaledi and Makhuduthamaga local municipalities.

The Executive Mayor  of Sekhukhune District Municipality Minah Bahula, has expresses profound sadness following two incidents that claimed 7 lives in the Elias Motsoaledi and Makhuduthamaga local municipalities.

The first incident occurred at Thaereng Village, Ward 6, in the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality, where a 47-year-old police sergeant, stationed in Pretoria, allegedly shot and killed his mother-in-law and his stepson before turning the firearm on his wife, Mrs Kedibone Tlou Makitla (46), a teacher, and their daughter. Both the wife and the daughter survived with injuries and have since been discharged from hospital. The suspect later died after turning the firearm on himself. It is also reported that five cattle belonging to the family were also and killed during the incident.

Executive Mayor Bahula visited the bereaved Tlou family alongside Elias local mayor Magetle Tladi, MMC Carpos Ngobeni, Chief Whip Elias Ntuli, and Ward Councillor Ndumiso Ndlovu.

Tlou family spokesperson Elias Mahlangu, said the family was left devastated by the attack and thanked the government and community for responding swiftly and for being supportive.

The Executive Mayor also visited the family of the deceased police sergeant, the perpetrator whose home is located just across the street from the Tlou family to offer her condolences.

The Executive Mayor also conveyed sympathies to the Magabane family that lost five members in a fire believed to have been caused by a coal fire heating device commonly known as mbaola.

Bahula, alongside Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality Mayor Merah Mahlase, visited the grieving family in Ngwaritsi Village, Ward 4 where they had chilling details of the incident that occurred on Sunday 28 June 2026.

The deceased in the second incidents were identified as 49 year old Constance Magabane , Girly Magabane aged 30, Hope Magabane, 6, Kgaogelo Magabane who was just 2 years old, and 7 year old Charmaine. Kgaogelo and Charmaine are, according to the family, grandchildren.

The district municipality said support has been provided to both families as they deal with the agony of losing their loved ones.

 “As part of providing support to the grieving family, the Executive Mayor and the delegation donated food groceries to assist with funeral preparations ahead of the expected burial this coming weekend,” said the municipality in a statement released by spokesperson Lemson Moropjane.

“A multidisciplinary team from the Department of Health, including a psychologist and social workers from both Philadelphia Hospital in Dennilton, and St Ritas also visited the family to provide much-needed psychosocial support,” he said.

He said other than conveying her sincere condolences to both bereaved families, the Executive Mayor also committed continued support to them as they plan to lay their loved ones to rest and pick up pieces.

Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding both incidents are underwa