A British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage who allegedly murdered his wife and two children in Bedfordshire, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, has been arrested.
Tshuma, after his arrest, was on Friday charged with three counts of murder after being arrested in South Africa in connection with the deaths.
The victims were identified as Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, whose bodies were discovered at their home in Great Denham, near Bedford, after police forced entry following concerns that the family had not been seen for several days.
CCTV footage shows moment the suspect was at the airport, fleeing UK on his British passport
Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS, Emma Davies, said the decision to charge followed a review of evidence submitted by Bedfordshire Police.
Davies said, “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised three charges of murder against Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma following the deaths of his wife and two daughters.
“This comes after the careful review of evidence provided by Bedfordshire Police.
“Our thoughts remain with Zandile, Natalie and Nala’s loved ones and with everyone affected by what has happened.”
In a Friday statement, the South African Police Service said Tshuma was arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, following a coordinated operation involving multiple specialist units.
It read, “The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, in Kensington, Johannesburg, following an intensive operation involving the SAPS Interpol National Central Bureau, Crime Intelligence and the Organised Crime Investigation Unit.
“Tshuma is wanted by authorities in the United Kingdom in connection with the murder of his wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma (42), and their two daughters, Natalie (15) and Nala (5), whose bodies were discovered at their home near Bedford.
“Through swift operational coordination and intelligence-led policing, SAPS members successfully traced and arrested the fugitive today.”
The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, praised officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to international law enforcement cooperation.
“This arrest demonstrates that South Africa is not a safe haven for fugitives.
“Anyone who believes they can evade justice by fleeing to our country should know that SAPS will work tirelessly with international law enforcement partners to trace, locate and arrest them,” the release further noted.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
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