Woman, 53, found dead in domestic dispute
A community member said a neighbour found the wife unresponsive and called the police after the husband had left for work on Friday morning.
Image: File
IN a tragic start to Women’s Month, a 53-year-old woman was found dead in her home in Browns Farm, Philippi, following an alleged domestic dispute.
The woman was allegedly beaten to death after an argument.
A community member said a neighbour found the wife unresponsive and called the police after the husband had left for work on Friday morning.
Western Cape police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirmed a case of murder was registered at Nyanga police station following the discovery of the woman’s body at about 6am on August 1 at a premises in Block 6, Link Road, Browns Farm.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.
"An adult male was arrested and is due to appear in court once charged. The motive is believed to be an argument,” said Van Wyk.
Anti-gender-based violence organisation Ilitha Labantu expressed concern over the killing.
Spokesperson Siyabulela Monakali said: “This horrific incident marks a grim beginning to Women’s Month, a time that is meant to honour the courage and resistance of women in our country. Yet women continue to be brutalised and murdered in their homes and communities.
“We cannot claim to be making any real progress when women are never safe – not in their homes, not in public, and certainly not in intimate relationships.
“This is not an isolated case. It is part of a broader crisis of gender-based violence that has become normalised in our society, where women’s bodies are sites of violence and the justice system continues to fail to act as an effective deterrent. Each life taken is a reminder of how little value is placed on the safety and dignity of women in South Africa.”
Meanwhile, police in Tshwane said an investigation is underway to establish if there is a link in cases after the bodies of four women were discovered between June and July 2025.
"Three burned bodies were found between Watloo and Denneboom train stations (Silverton precinct), while the fourth body was discovered in a shallow grave in Eersterust policing precinct on July 31.
"A task team comprising of seasoned detectives, including crime intelligence, forensic services and crime scene experts, has been established to investigate all four murder cases and to trace the perpetrator/s," police spokesperson Brenda Muridili said.
Anyone with information on the incidents can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app.
Cape Times