Update
KNYSNA NEWS - The community of Flenter Location in White Location is in shock following the gruesome discovery of the bodies of a 31-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man inside a home on Friday 18 July. Knysna Police opened murder and inquest dockets following the discovery.
Sergeant Chris Spies, Southern Cape police spokesperson, said in a statement that according to information available at this stage, a police member accompanied a social worker to visit a woman.
"On arrival at the woman’s residence they were directed to the house at Flenter Location. The police member forced the door of the residence open when they discovered the body of the woman (31) with multiple stab wounds on the bed and a man (37) with a rope around his neck. Both were declared dead by medical personnel on the scene. It is believed that the victims were in a relationship prior to the incident."
While initial reports suggest an active romantic relationship between the deceased, the woman’s mother, Nonzolo Ngxwashula, has disputed this.
The Flenter location house had no tape indicating that it was a crime scene. Neighbours have complained of a bad smell coming from the house.
She identified her daughter as Siphokazi Ngwendu, and said the relationship had ended long before the man was imprisoned late last year.
A protection order had been issued against the man, whose identity has not been officially released yet.
“He was abusive and dangerous. Even after the protection order, he would still come around. I never wanted him near my daughter,” Ngxwashula told Knysna-Plett Herald.
She said that her daughter had been living in fear.
Two days prior to the discovery
Ngxwashula told Knysna-Plett Herald that she started to get worried when her daughter didn't come home from work on Wednesday night, as she usually let her mother know about her whereabouts. Ngxwashula said that she learned from a colleague of Ngwendu that her ex-boyfriend had shown up at her workplace on Wednesday morning, allegedly asking her to accompany him to look for his ID that he urgently needed but couldn't find. According to the colleague, despite her warning Ngewndu against going, Ngwendu agreed to go to the Flenter location residence after work.
Worried mother
"I tried calling Siphokazi but her phone went to voicemail. I immediately started to panic but at the same time didn't want to put her in a difficult situation if I called the police."
Ngxwashula fears worsened by Thursday when she still heard nothing from her daughter. On Friday, a social worker who said Ngwendu had had a few counselling sessions with her, came to Ngxwashula's house looking for her.
She was worried about Ngwendu as she had missed an appointment on Wednesday, the last day her colleagues and family last saw her alive.
"I told the social worker that Siphokazi is not home, and she is believed to be at the house in Flenter Location. I then told her I would accompany them to the house as the social worker insisted she needed to check on her," Ngxwashula said.
"After the police officer forced the door open, the social worker came to me and asked if I am okay and if I am hungry. She told me that I had to go with her first.
Read more in this week's edition of the Knysna-Plett Herald.
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Knysna couple found dead in Flenter Location residence | Knysna-Plett Herald
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