The husband of the late Thuleka Zabezolo, a woman from Ikageng, North West, is set to make his first appearance at the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on Monday on a charge of murder.
What happened to Thuleka Zabezolo?
In a statement, police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh revealed the suspect, whose identity can be made public after his court appearance, was arrested on Thursday 6 January 2022.
Neighbours contacted police when, at approximately 02:00 on that day, they heard Zabezolo’s screams for help coming from the couple’s property in Extension 11 of the Potchefstroom township.
Police rushed to the scene and after numerous calls to the husband, “they managed to gain access into the house.”
“The victim was found lying in a pool of blood with numerous stab wounds on her chest and severe head injuries,” Colonel Myburgh said.
Zabezolo was 34 years old and a mother to a three-year-old boy whom she conceived from a previous relationship. The boy, it’s believed, may have witnessed his mother’s violent death. Fortunately, when police arrived at the house, he was unharmed.
It is unclear, at this stage, where the child was taken. Presumably, Child Protection Services (CPS) would have either sent the child to a haven or handed him over to Zabezolo’s immediate family.
“Zabezolo was declared dead on the scene by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS). Consequently the police arrested the suspect,” the police statement read.
The suspect, a 28-year-old, will make his first court appearance on Monday, where it will be heard if he intends to apply for bail.
“The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, has condemned in the strongest possible terms this act of violence. He reiterated that the police will do everything in their power to ensure that the suspect is held accountable for his conduct,” Colonel Myburgh added.
Court proceedings in the Zabezolo murder had not concluded at the time this article was published.