Rival suitor knifed to death

A 37-year-old man from Mathetshaneni village in Nkayi allegedly knifed his cousin to death last week after he found him being intimate with his wife.

Mfanelo Maphosa (30) was allegedly butchered by Vusa Ncube who caught him having a nice time with his wife in the early hours of last Wednesday.

Maphosa's cousin Phathekile Nyoni said Ncube's wife, Babongile, had left her matrimonial home in Sesemba village a fortnight ago after she heard that the deceased was back from South Africa.

Nyoni said her cousin had an affair with Ncube's wife, but the two had been advised to end it as they were related.

"Babongile was ordered to go back to her husband as he already knew about the affair," she said.

"On Wednesday night Ncube visited his in-laws and went straight to Babongile's bedroom hut.

"He allegedly knocked on the door and a male voice responded.

"He got angry, pushed the door and gained entry. He discovered that it was his wife and cousin who were in the same bedroom hut undressed."

The two allegedly ordered Ncube to leave with Babongile allegedly telling her husband that she was no longer interested in him.

She said the argument escalated and attracted the attention of Babongile's father, but Ncube was stabbed before they could intervene.

"It was still dark and it was hard to identify the person, but we saw him (Ncube) rushing to the kitchen where he picked up a butcher knife and stabbed Mfanelo twice in the stomach and once in the back before fleeing the scene," Nyoni said.

She said Mfanelo died at Nkayi Hospital and Ncube is on the run.

Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said she could not comment on the case as she was out of town.