A Burundian national described by the March and March movement as a pastor has been arrested after a South African woman was seriously injured in an alleged stabbing attack, with political leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma claiming the incident may have been linked to her brother’s support for the movement.
The woman remains in intensive care after sustaining multiple stab wounds, while her young daughter was also injured during the incident, according to Ngobese-Zuma.
Speaking outside the home of artist Pastor Mjosty, whom March and March publicly acknowledged on 30 June for supporting the movement, Ngobese-Zuma said she received a call informing her of the attack.
She identified the critically injured woman as Pastor Mjosty’s sister and alleged that she was stabbed more than 40 times during the early hours of the morning. Ngobese-Zuma further alleged that the woman’s daughter was also stabbed.
According to Ngobese-Zuma, the woman had previously attended a church led by the suspect before the church was shut down and later joined another congregation. She claimed that after March and March publicly recognised Pastor Mjosty as one of its supporters, the suspect contacted the woman to question why her brother supported the movement.
Ngobese-Zuma alleged that the woman responded by saying her brother was free to support any political movement of his choice.
She further alleged that the suspect later went to the woman’s home, where the attack took place. A neighbour reportedly pursued the suspect and alerted police, leading to his arrest.
In a subsequent update shared by March and March, it was alleged that the suspect and the victim had previously been in a relationship. The movement also claimed that the woman had obtained a protection order against him about a year ago.
According to the same update, the suspect allegedly believed the relationship had ended because the woman’s brother disapproved of him due to his support for March and March.
March and March further alleged that the suspect attempted to take his own life while being held in police custody and was later admitted to hospital, where he is reportedly under medical observation.
Police had not publicly confirmed the motive for the attack or the additional allegations regarding the suspect’s relationship with the victim, the protection order or the alleged attempted suicide at the time of publication.
Authorities are expected to continue their investigation while the suspect is expected to face criminal charges once medical and legal processes permit.
The victim remains in intensive care as investigations continue.