The father of Sibusiso Lawrence, who confessed to killing his wife and posting images of her body online before taking his own life in KwaZulu-Natal, revealed his family is “heartbroken and disturbed” by the tragedy. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, he disclosed previously unknown details about the couple’s deteriorating relationship.
“He was a quiet person who kept a lot of things to himself,” the father said, describing his son’s reserved nature that masked deepening domestic troubles.
The father confirmed the 25-year-old victim was Lawrence’s wife through traditional marriage, noting he had participated in the lobola negotiations himself.
Family interventions failed to save the troubled marriage. “When they started fighting, he asked me and his mother to go and speak to the wife’s family. She ended up dumping him before our very eyes,” the father recalled.
Lawrence had recently confided in his parents about paternity concerns. “He told us everything, including that the child the woman had given birth to was not his,” his father revealed, adding that these revelations came shortly before the tragic events.
Despite the troubles, the father expressed continued affection for his daughter-in-law. “I had been fond of his son’s wife,” he said, explaining how the couple had married while concealing their relationship difficulties from Lawrence’s family.
According to KZN SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, Lawrence collected the victim from her home before the murder. Police believe a domestic dispute escalated into violence, culminating in the killing and subsequent social media posts.
The father acknowledged learning about the disturbing social media posts and his son’s actions only after the fact. “When he told us of the shameful things she had done yesterday, it did not sit well with us,” he said.
Lawrence’s body was discovered hanging from a tree following the murder confession, police confirmed.
The case has sparked widespread discussion about domestic violence and mental health in South Africa, with authorities continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murder-suicide.
