Nine-year-old Natalie and five-year-old Nala were found dead in a house near Bedford, sparking a murder investigation. Forensics teams and police attended the scene, leaving their family and community in shock.
The victims were identified as Natalie and her younger sister Nala, whose mother, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, was also found dead. Their father, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, also known as Mark, has been named as a murder suspect by police.
The suspect, 45, is believed to have left the country via a British passport on Saturday and is now thought to be in Zimbabwe. Police are urging him to turn himself in and have warned that the full weight of the law will be thrown behind the investigation.
DI Lee Martin addressed the suspect directly, saying, "We know that the suspect left the country on Saturday. Mark, I am now speaking to you directly. Unthinkable harm has been caused to those around you. Three innocent people have lost their lives in the worst possible circumstances, leaving your relatives and friends devastated."
The local community is reeling from the shock of the tragedy. Natalie's school, Bedford Girls' School, described her as "full of life," while Nala's school, Pilgrims Pre-Prep School, said she was a "ray of sunshine" who had a huge impact on their community.
Police are working closely with national and international agencies to pursue every available line of enquiry to track down the suspect and bring him to justice.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward. Funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been confirmed, pending guidance from the relevant authorities.
