Alleged Killer Couple Arrested in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africans Disgusted

• A couple was arrested after they allegedly killed a man in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend
• Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) responded to multiple complaints after a man was hacked to death in front of his daughter
• South Africans praised RUSA and were disturbed by the sheer violent nature of the crime, pitying the girl who witnessed her father's death

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

SHAKASKRAAL, KWAZULU-NATAL — A couple was apprehended in Shakaskraal, KwaZulu-Natal, for allegedly hacking a man to death in front of his daughter on 30 August 2025.

According to Reaction Unit South Africa, the victim, Doctor William Mphuthi, was hacked to death with a sickle in front of his six-year-old daughter on his driveway. The couple reportedly fled the scene and took their child, who was with them. Mphuthi was rushed to a clinic in Tongaat, where he was declared dead.

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Mphuthi's mother-in-law called RUSA on 1 September and reported the incident. RUSA then issued an alert, circulating information about the suspects. Their work paid off, as they tracked them down to a house in Shakas Head. The couple was hiding while gathering money to flee. RUSA officers found them in the house, with the husband hiding under a pile of clothing.

couples arrested in 2025

Several couples have been arrested in 2025 on charges of gruesome incidents. On 3 May, a Free State couple was arrested in Reitz after their children were burned to death. The couple went drinking and left their 1 1-month-old and seven-month-old toddlers unattended in their shack. A community member told them that their shack was on fire, and they rushed home. They were charged with child neglect.

A Khayelitsha man and woman abandoned their bail bid after appearing before the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court on 20 August. They were charged with the rape and murder of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa, who was found dead on a street. They were arrested on 23 July 2025.

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South Africans react

Netizens commenting on Facebook were impressed by RUSA's reaction time.

Zwe Sishi Madlala said:

"Reaction Unit South Africa, the competence of your work is extremely impressive. I think you must expand your branches throughout the country."

Gonum Rengasamy said:

"Thanks, RUSA, for a job well done, and to the public for helping apprehend them."

Terona Naidoo-Govender said:

"Both these little girls had to witness such a horrific act at such tender ages by two selfish, heartless people who didn't think twice about ruining their happiness."

Molly Behari said:

"Well done. You guys catch all kinds of snakes."

Virasha Moodley said:

"It's a sad situation for the child. She's innocent. As a parent, you always have to be wary of your actions and the implications they have on your child."

Eldorado Park couple abandons bail

In a related article, Briefly News reported that an Eldorado Park couple abandoned their bail application after they appeared in connection with their daughter's death. The couple was arrested on 6 August 2025.

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The police received a complaint that the man was abusing his daughter. They found him in a shack with two children, one of whom was the little girl who died from her injuries.

Bail denied for one of the suspects arrested for 4-year-old child’s drug case

Meanwhile, one of the four suspects arrested for making a little child smoke drugs in Newclare, Johannesburg, was denied bail when they appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates' court on 22 August 2025.

According to SABC News, the presiding Magistrate Annalisa Tlhapi denied one of the suspects bail. She said that releasing him might increase the risk of his evading trial, and he might endanger other children in the area.

Tlhapi said that the suspect is facing serious charges and was also previously convicted on a drug possession charge. She added that the suspect poses a risk not only of smoking drugs but also of passing drugs to the child to smoke.

Source: Briefly News