A 62-year-old woman was killed with a brick and kicks after an argument over goats turned deadly in Ga-Thoka village, Limpopo, on Thursday afternoon, 10 September 2026.
Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said the incident began around 3pm when the victim, who was in her yard, confronted a 39-year-old man herding goats past her home in Ga-Thoka village. Both the victim and the suspect are reportedly mental health patients.
“The incident happened at about 3pm on Thursday,” Col Ledwaba confirmed in a statement released on 13 September, which formed the basis of multiple news reports. TimesLive and Black News UK carried the same details after the police briefing.
The initial argument saw stones thrown before a witness intervened, attempting to calm the situation by explaining the woman suffered from mental health issues and often behaved aggressively. The suspect then turned on the witness.
“The suspect allegedly threatened the witness, saying they did not know him and that he would kill them,” Col Ledwaba stated, relaying the witness account.
After that confrontation, the victim returned home and told her family she was going to a mall, but left again shortly after. A second run-in with the same suspect escalated rapidly into physical violence. The man allegedly picked up a brick and assaulted her, then kicked her repeatedly.
“She sustained injuries and was found bleeding from the mouth. She was declared dead at the scene,” Col Ledwaba said.
The 39-year-old suspect was arrested at Ga-Thoka village following the assault. He is expected to appear in the Mankweng magistrate’s court on a charge of murder. No court date has been confirmed yet.
Police have not released the names of the victim or the accused. The mental health status of both individuals, widely reported as fact by several outlets, remains an unverified detail based on police and witness statements rather than medical records. Independent verification of their clinical histories is still being checked with Limpopo health authorities.
What remains unknown is the full psychiatric assessment of the suspect, whether he was on medication or under institutional care, and if the State will request mental observation once the case is placed on the court roll. Cape Flats News will next check with SAPS Limpopo for updates on Tuesday, 15 September.