Police in Limpopo are searching for a man identified as Simon Makeya after the body of 57-year-old Maphoko Malatji was found in a pool of blood inside a house in the village of Matipane, outside Tzaneen, on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The South African Police Service (SAPS) issued a statement on Sunday appealing directly to Makeya to come forward and present himself to assist with the ongoing investigation.
Limpopo SAPS spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed the discovery of Malatji’s body to SABC News. Officers had responded to the scene in Matipane on the weekend, but Ledwaba did not disclose the cause of death or whether any weapon was recovered. The house where the body was found has not been described further, and a case number has not been made public.
Cape Flats News does not have an independent reporter at the scene nearly 1,800 kilometres from Cape Town. We are relying on the SAPS media statement as carried by SABC News. No community tip or Western Cape police briefing exists for this Limpopo incident, and we have been unable to verify the killing or the appeal beyond the official account. At the time of publication, Makeya has not been charged or described as a suspect by police; he is sought only to help with questions.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) is therefore, appealing to Simon Makeya to come forward and present himself to the police to assist with the ongoing investigation. Members of the public who may know his whereabouts or may assist with the investigation are urged to immediately report such information to the police.”
It remains unknown how Malatji was killed, whether she lived in the house, or what relationship, if any, existed between the deceased and Makeya. Police have not released an age, physical description, or photograph of Makeya, nor have they detailed the circumstances that led them to name him publicly. The appeal suggests officers believe he has information critical to the case, but no further clarity has been offered.
Violent crime continues to plague communities across South Africa. While Limpopo’s murder rate is lower than that of the Western Cape, national police statistics show a steady increase in homicides in the province over recent years. The killing of an older woman in a rural village echoes concerns often voiced on the Cape Flats, where older residents are sometimes targeted in their homes. The 1,700-kilometre distance does not blunt the shared anxiety felt when a neighbour’s life ends abruptly and the answers lie with a person who has not yet come forward.
Cape Flats News will check with Limpopo SAPS on Monday, 14 September, for any update on whether Makeya has made contact or if an arrest has been made. We will also seek further details about the cause of death and the nature of the investigation.