A 56-year-old teacher has been arrested on charges of murder and attempted murder following a shooting incident in Elukwatini in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 02:10 on 14 February 2026 in Elukwatini.

On arrival, officers found a 22-year-old woman in the street with a gunshot wound to her foot. She informed police that she had been shot by her mother’s male friend and further stated that her mother had also been shot and was unable to escape.

Inside the house, police discovered the 45-year-old mother lying on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. Emergency Medical Services certified her dead at the scene. The injured daughter was transported to hospital for medical treatment.

The suspect was found inside the house and was immediately arrested. A firearm believed to have been used in the commission of the crime was confiscated. He has been charged with murder and attempted murder and is expected to appear soon at the Albert Luthuli Magistrate’s Court.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, condemned the incident and conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased. He expressed deep concern over the continued incidents of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), calling on community members to seek help when facing personal challenges rather than resorting to violence.

He added that communities cannot afford to continue losing loved ones in this manner and urged collective action to end violence against women and children.