The community of Mkhuhlu near Hazyview in Mpumalanga is still in shock after the news broke out that the late chief Clyde Mnisi's wife was shot and killed just two days after burying her husband. Charlene Mathews (30) was shot and killed on  inside their royal home in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

ARMED SUSPECTS

It alleged that two armed suspects gained entrance at their royal home and shot her, along two males who were with her at the house at the time. The two males that were with Mnisi's wife are believed to be relatives. It is alleged that the wife died on the scene while the two males were rushed to hospital for medical assistance. Mathews's passing comes after she laid her husband to rest this past weekend. Mnisi was gunned down on 26  March when he was travelling on the  airport road near Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Mnisi, who is regarded as the poaching kingpin was assassinated by gunmen who were driving a BMW X5. He had gotten a flat tyre.

HITMEN WHO KILLED WIFE SAME AS THOSE OF HUBBY?

Mnisi was assassinated before appearing in court. The chief and other suspects were arrested by the police and they were facing rhino poaching charges. It is still unknown if the hitmen who killed Mnisi's wife are the same suspects wo killed his wife at their royal home. Mpumalanga SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala confirmed the incident. "The SAPS management in Mpumalanga of the Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned the fatal shooting of the widow of the late Clyde Mnisi. She was reportedly gunned down in the early hours of Tuesday. A case of murder with two counts of attempted murder is being investigated by the police in Calcutta. "Police were called to a shooting incident at the residential place of the late chief. Upon arrival they found the lifeless of the woman with multiple wounds on the head. Two members also sustained gunshots wounds after being shot and they were taken to hospital. A team of investigators has been assembled and have already began with a probe with a hope to arrest perpetrators," he said.

RHINO POACHING SYNDICATE

Mnisi, who was inaugurated as a senior traditional leader of the Mnisi Traditional Council in October 2022, is the third person to be killed who was involved in the Mpumalanga High Court case coming up later this month, regarding rhino poaching-related charges. Mnisi was set to appear in court on 17 April facing charges of rhino poaching and money laundering. His death follows that of another suspected rhino poaching kingpin, Petros Sidney Mabuza, known to many as 'Mshengu', who was shot multiple times in broad daylight opposite a petrol station in Hazyview in 2021.Mnisi and Mabuza had originally been arrested and charged along with four other suspects, Claude Lubisi, Joseph Nyalunga, Aretha Mhlanga and Rachel Qwebana, in September 2018. Questions remain unanswered as to who murdered the late Lieutenant Colonel Leroy Bruwer of the Hawks, who was investigating the rhino poaching syndicate in Mpumalanga. He was shot and killed on his way to work in 2020.