A mother has paid with her life in defence of her unborn child.
A 35-year-old man is to face murder charges on Friday in connection with the triple killing of his girlfriend, their two-year-old toddler and her sister early on Wednesday.
He is suspected of gunning down 30-year-old Patronella Mkona, her sister, Charmaine Mkona, 35, and their daughter, Latoya, when she apparently refused to abort their second child.
Police said that when the suspect and Mkona argued at 2am at her NY89 home in Gugulethu, Cape Town, over the abortion, he produced a firearm and opened fire.
Police spokesperson Billy Jones said the man fled on foot, but was apprehended by police a short while later at a mall about a kilometre away.
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"The suspect is in custody at the Gugulethu police station and will be facing charges of murder when he appears in the Athlone magistrate's court on Friday. We are still searching for the firearm," Jones said.
The deeply traumatised Mkona family were taken to the Gugulethu police station for counselling.
"Patronella's boyfriend came to the house and the two of them sat in the lounge and spoke about their problems. My mother was also present," said Charmaine Mkona's son, Zolani.
"Later there was an argument between Pat and him about her pregnancy. He demanded she to go to a clinic to have an abortion."
"But she refused and told him this was impossible for her. She said that if he wanted her baby dead, he should kill her first."
Zolani Mkona, who had gone to the back of the house and later heard screams, said: "I did not hear the shots. In fact I did not even know he was armed."
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This article was originally published on page 2 of The Star on June 22, 2006
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