A 50-year-old
man suspected of killing his two-year-old son and the son’s four-year-old half-sister on Wednesday is in a critical condition in hospital after trying to commit suicide.
Lionel and Shaylin Petersen died at their home in Village Heights, Muizenberg, after their throats were slit.
The police said that Lionel’s father was under guard at an undisclosed hospital while they investigated the deaths.
The toddlers’ mother, Yolandie Petersen, and Shaylin’s father, Anthony Petersen, identified the bodies on Thursday.
Anthony Petersen said: “Yolandie is not okay. She was okay when we left but she saw the children and everything went south. Sometimes when we’re talking about the kids she just breaks down… I don’t know how long it will take for her to get better. It’s her children. She didn’t expect this.”
He added that Lionel and Shaylin would be buried on June 23.
“We still have to confirm where the service will be. We are trying to get a community hall at a local school.”
Cape Argus