It was “senseless, inhumane and diabolical” and police should do everything possible to arrest the man who allegedly threw two hand grenades at a woman, said KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu.
Mchunu was speaking on Monday about the grenade attack in a home in eManzimtoti.
“It is extremely painful to wake up to the terrible news that a woman has been killed in a nefarious manner. We also appeal to the suspect to hand himself over,” he said. “Anyone who might have any information that might lead to his arrest must come forward.”
The woman has been identified as Lesego Mohoasa, 33, an air force clerk for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at the Bluff Military Base. Initially police gave her age as 30 and the man who attacked her as 33.
It has now emerged the suspect wanted for questioning is 44 years old, and an ex-MK veteran who had served in the SANDF.
The incident happened on Sunday morning in Karridale Drive.
The couple reportedly arrived home from a funeral at midnight and began arguing over money that had gone missing from a cupboard.
The man allegedly had two M26 grenades in his hand. A male relative, who was also in the kitchen, saw the grenades and ran into another room.
The man allegedly threw the grenades into the kitchen where Mohoasa was standing. One exploded, the second did not. She died en route to Kingsway Hospital.
Mohoasa’s two sons, aged 7 and 8, were in their bedroom when the blast went off.
Mohoasa had moved to Durban from Bloemfontein in June last year.
SAPS spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane, said police were investigating the murder, and were also looking into where the grenades had come from and how the suspect had come to have them at home.
The family could not be reached on Monday and it was not clear where the children were staying.