HIV+ lover killer arrested

POLICE have arrested a married man who allegedly beat his girlfriend to death while forcing two children aged seven and 10 to watch.

Farai Maphosa, 35, of Mayobodo area in Mangwe, was arrested on Saturday evening while trying to skip the country into neighbouring Botswana through an illegal crossing point near Mphoengs Border Post.

Maphosa accused his lover Singatsho Ndebele, 41, of being a prostitute and infecting him with HIV.

He allegedly told the children he wanted to show them how a prostitute is treated.

Maphosa pounded Ndebele with a log and hoe handle until she died and then fled from the scene.

The police who had launched a manhunt for the suspect spotted him in a bushy area and gave chase until they apprehended him.

Maphosa yesterday appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon, on initial remand facing murder charges. He was remanded in custody to December 29.

Prosecuting, Elisha Mazorodze said Maphosa was armed with a log and wooden hoe handle when he attacked Ndebele.

He told of how Maphosa dragged Ndebele into the house and woke up the two children who were asleep and ordered them to watch as he disciplined Ndebele.

"Maphosa continued to pound the woman with a wooden hoe handle and log all over the body until she collapsed in the full view of the two children. He kept accusing Ndebele of being a prostitute and infecting him with HIV," said Mazorodze.

He said Maphosa then dragged Ndebele, who was lying unconscious at the time, outside for about 50 metres and then dumped her body and fled from the scene.

Mazorodze told the court neighbours who were alerted by wscreams of the two children arrived after Maphosa had disappeared.

Ndebele was taken to Mayobodo Clinic but died upon arrival.

Maphosa was reportedly having an affair with Ndebele while on the other hand he had a family of his own. The two lovers had a child together.

The lovers were reportedly "always fighting."