A Zimbabwean-born British man arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday, suspected of murdering his wife and two daughters in the United Kingdom, bought an unlicensed gun that may have been intended for suicide, South African police have said.
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, appeared before a Johannesburg magistrates’ court on Monday. He was remanded in custody until 22 July while authorities determine whether he is in South Africa legally.
In South Africa, he faces a charge of illegal possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years for first-time offenders. The court will also consider whether he should be extradited to Britain.
In the UK, prosecutors have charged Tshuma with three counts of murder after the bodies of his wife, 42, and daughters, aged 15 and 5, were found at their home in Bedfordshire earlier this month.
South African police said Tshuma left Britain via Heathrow Airport before the bodies were discovered.
Speaking to reporters, South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said their investigation showed that, after landing in South Africa on 5 July, Tshuma went to a township and bought the unlicensed firearm.
“It is our suspicion that this … firearm was going to be used to end his life,” said Mathe.
She added that Tshuma’s family did not shelter him and had, in fact, played a key role in his arrest.
Mathe also said South Africa had received a provisional extradition request from Britain, but was still waiting for the full paperwork.
“I must really give credit to the team that is behind me, our SAPS Interpol team. I don’t see the other member. Really, for the turnaround time,” said Mathe.
“If he entered the country on the 5th and on the 10th, he was already apprehended, and he has now appeared before a South African court, I think that’s quite commendable.
“It just shows that our teams are efficient, they are very effective, and it demonstrates our capabilities in terms of investigation.
“So this is the team that, when they heard about the wanted fugitive, they immediately searched on the movement control system, and they are the ones who actually confirmed that he was in the country because the movement control system had confirmed that he entered the country on the 5th of July.
“They visited various addresses, including a popular hotel in Sandton, where he had checked in upon arrival, and thereafter he checked out, and they visited various addresses as well until he was arrested on Friday.
“So I think we really need to give credit where it is due in terms of the expertise and the capabilities of our investigating teams.”
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