SHOCKING: love affairs leaves dead bodies

THE police in Limpopo have opened a murder case and an inquest docket following an incident in which a doctor shot and killed his wife, who was also a doctor, and then turned the gun on himself.  

The incident took place at Thornhill Estate in Polokwane on Monday, 27 March.  

Preliminary police investigations revealed that the couple, Dr Mainfred Shikwambane (35) and Dr Tshimangadzo Muofhe (32), had a fight earlier in the day and in the afternoon.  

Dr Shikwambane worked at Donald Fraser Hospital in Thohoyandou, while Dr Muofhe was attached to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital.

Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the woman was allegedly shot dead by her husband who then turned the gun on himself.  

“The bodies of the deceased were reportedly found by a family member who arrived from Vhembe District in the afternoon, and the police were called,” he said.  

Mojapelo said the motive behind the incident is unknown at this stage, but could not rule out domestic violence.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe has urged people experiencing domestic challenges to seek assistance and resolve their issues instead of taking their own lives.  

Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba went to the scene and described their deaths as an immense loss to the department.  

"This is a sad day for me and the entire department. We are devastated. Losing such hardworking, dedicated, and promising young people is a blow for us as the department,” she said.  

Ramathuba told Daily Sun that Dr Shikwambana served for two years as an acting clinical manager at Donald Fraser Hospital before his permanent appointment. 

“He managed to turn the hospital around from leading in maternal death in the Vhembe District to recording zero during that tenure, and continued sustaining his excellent performance in clinical governance leading to us giving him the responsibility to act as the overall head of the institution at the beginning of this month,” she said.  

The MEC said Dr Muofhe will be missed by her colleagues and patients in the obstetrics and gynecologic department of Pietersburg hospital for her dedication and commitment when it came to protecting pregnant women and their unborn children.