By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – A 22-year-old woman was fatally stabbed in the early hours of Workers’ Day following a shocking altercation over spilled wine in Phuthaditjhaba. The suspect, a 27-year-old woman from the same area, was swiftly arrested by police and is expected to appear in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 2 May 2025, facing a charge of murder.
According to a statement from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner, the incident occurred around 04:30 in the morning. It is alleged that the suspect accused the victim of pouring wine on her during a street encounter. She then left the scene, only to return moments later armed with a sharp object. Without warning, she allegedly stabbed the young woman in the chest, killing her instantly.
Phuthaditjhaba police were called to the scene around 07:30 and found the victim lying in the street with a fatal stab wound. The weapon believed to have been used has since been confiscated as evidence.
Thabo Mofutsanyana SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring explained; “While the identity of the victim remains undisclosed pending formal identification by her family. The accused remains in custody as the investigation continues.”
This incident adds to the growing concerns about violent crime in the region and the need for more urgent interventions in conflict resolution and substance abuse-related violence.
