The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) applauded the decision by the Temba Magistrates Court to deny bail to Romeo Moshe Shibambu, the suspect in the triple murder of the Baloyi family. Shibambu, who allegedly hacked three family members to death with a spade, appeared in court on Thursday, facing two counts of attempted murder and one count of malicious property damage. He has been remanded in police custody.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the senseless, violent attack on the Baloyi family and other community members, which has left communities across the nation in shock. This unprovoked assault, particularly against three-year-old Kelebogile Neo Gift Baloyi, represents a level of barbarism that has no place in our society,” remarked SAUCIC President, Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole.
Cardinal Shole noted that the use of a spade in this gruesome crime is a stark reminder of another horrific incident in which a 25-year-old son murdered his own mother using a similar weapon in Mosiane View Village outside Mahikeng.
He highlighted the tragic fate of Kelebogile’s parents, Rose (33) and Sibusiso Langatshe Baloyi (42), who were killed while trying to protect their child from a bloodthirsty assailant. Rose was attacked after she fell and fainted during the confrontation.
Cardinal Shole emphasised that families are facing unprecedented attacks fueled by mental health issues that manifest as senseless violence. He called for prayer and counselling to address the trauma within our communities.
“The threat of violence, even within families, must not be taken lightly, as its escalation leads to untold suffering,” he warned.
The attack on the Baloyi family, which occurred on September 30, 2025, could have been prevented had the earlier assault on Shibambu’s sister, alleged to have taken place on September 28, 2025, been reported to the police, allowing for timely intervention.
According to police reports, a taxi driver who witnessed the attack attempted to intervene but was assaulted by Shibambu with the spade. The suspect then fled the scene in the taxi, dragging the taxi driver behind him until he could no longer continue.
Community members apprehended Shibambu as soon as he exited the taxi, and the police were called to the scene. The injured taxi driver was taken to the hospital for treatment, while the suspect was arrested.
Cardinal Shole commended the community for their swift action in making a citizen’s arrest and urged men to seek professional help when facing pressures in their relationships and personal lives, rather than resorting to violence.