Mother and four sons dead after alleged poisoning

South African Police in the North West are investigating four counts of murder and an inquest docket following the deaths of five out of eight family members on Sunday, 9 May.

A 38-year-old woman and her four sons aged between 2 months and 15-years-old were declared dead at the scene.

The husband, 35, and two other sons aged 8 and 17 were admitted to hospital.

Police said the tragic incident took place at a house in Vaalbank, which is just outside Coligny. The five deceased were declared dead on arrival by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) paramedics on Sunday morning.

“According to information available at this stage, reports suggest that the mother and father had an argument the previous night (Saturday, 8 May). However, the whole family: parents and six boys went to bed,” said South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh in a statement.

SAPS said the mother woke up at some point during the night and allegedly drank poison and spread it throughout the house.

The mother and four boys died, as a result, while the father and two sons were taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Major General Dintletse Molefe, the North West’s Acting Provincial Commissioner, said she was shocked by the incident and offered her condolences to the affected family. “She once more requested members of the community to seek professional intervention to resolve their differences,” said the police spokesperson.

The investigation into the matter is continuing.

In an unrelated incident, police in the Northern Cape opened an inquest docket after a body was discovered hanging outside the offices of the Kimberley police station on Monday morning, according to SABC News. The body was allegedly found dangling from the sixth floor of the building.

Police spokesperson Mashay Gamaldien said it is not clear how the man gained access to the building. No foul play is suspected.