Three arrested, including relative after Flagstaff principal murdered at home

Flagstaff school principal murdered at home, three arrested, including a close relative

A rural community in Limpopo is reeling after the brutal killing of a well-known school principal, allegedly at the hands of people he knew, one reportedly a close family member.

The 59-year-old Flagstaff School principal was gunned down in front of his family at his Siphaqeni homestead on 19 November, just before 8pm. What began as an ordinary Sunday evening has now spiralled into a murder case that has left parents, teachers and neighbours struggling to process what happened.

For many residents, principals are not only educators, they are respected figures, counsellors, and sometimes even father-figures in the community. Losing one to alleged planned murder hits differently.

Midnight arrest operation leads to breakthrough

After weeks of investigation, police say the pieces finally came together.
According to SAPS spokesperson Captain Welile Matyolo, a multi-unit team, including crime intelligence, detectives, the local Vispol unit and Public Order Policing, moved in before dawn on 9 December 2025.

Their first stop was Luqoqweni in Lusikisiki, where officers tracked down a 35-year-old suspected hitman at around 2am. He was allegedly found with an unlicensed Norinco 9mm pistol loaded with 14 live rounds. The serial number had been removed.

He was arrested on the spot.

From there, police drove to Flagstaff, where they arrested a 40-year-old suspected middleman and a 52-year-old relative of the deceased principal, a detail that has ignited shock and speculation across the community.

Matyolo confirmed the trio is expected to appear in Flagstaff Magistrate’s Court on 11 December, facing charges including murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The alleged hitman will first appear separately in Lusikisiki on 10 December for firearm and ammunition charges.

Community relief, but questions remain

While motive has not yet been confirmed publicly, the arrests have brought a sense of relief in a community still traumatised by the violence.

OR Tambo District Commissioner Maj Gen Norman Modishana praised the investigating team for working swiftly, calling it a demonstration of “sharp detective work” and dedication to ensuring suspects face justice.

But relief is mixed with heartbreak. Teachers who worked with the principal say his absence will be felt when schools reopen. Parents online have shared frustration and fear, “If principals aren’t safe, what about the rest of us?” one commented on Facebook.

Taxi violence case highlights wider trend of rural killings

In a separate case that underscores the ongoing challenge of violent crime in South Africa’s transport and rural sectors, a 28-year-old KwaZulu-Natal man, Samkelo Dumisa, was sentenced to two life terms plus 25 years in prison for murdering taxi assistant Sandiso ‘Rasta’ Magwaza and attempting to kill a taxi boss.

It’s a grim reminder that targeted killings, whether personal, economic or linked to taxi turf wars remain a national concern.

The Flagstaff investigation continues as authorities search for answers, particularly why a respected educator became the target of an alleged hit organised, shockingly, from within his own circle.

His family is left with grief, his school with an empty chair, and his community with the painful question: How do we protect the people who shape our children’s future?

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com