A 35-year-old man is facing a murder charge for the death of his 67-year-old mother-in-law in Atlantis, following a brutal attack allegedly carried out with an axe. 

According to Western Cape police, the incident took place in the early hours of 26 January at Pearl Mansion in Avondale.  

“This office hereby confirms that Atlantis SAPS has opened a murder case on Monday, 26 January at 01:20 against a 35-year-old male suspect who assaulted his 67-year-old mother-in-law to death with an axe in Pearl Mansion, Avondale,” confirmed Western Cape SAPS spokesperson, Thembakazi Mpendukana. 

The suspect was arrested nearly two weeks later, on 9 February.  

Mpendukana stated that “once charged, he will appear at Atlantis Magistrate Court.” 

However, police later indicated that the man has not yet appeared in court as he remains in hospital. On 13 February 2026, Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the suspect was still hospitalised. 

Community Policing Forum spokesperson Noel Cloete provided further details of the events leading up to the alleged murder. Cloete claims that the man was assaulting his wife, and his mother-in-law intervened, after which the suspect allegedly “went to his vehicle, got an axe from the car, came back, hacked his mother-in-law to death with it”. 

Cloete further claimed that members of the community assaulted the suspect following the incident, which he said led to his hospitalisation and subsequent arrest.  

“As a result of [the alleged incident], the community took action there, the law into their own hands,” said Cloete. 

Atlantis Ward Councillor Allistair Lightburn condemned the incident, describing it as “a heinous crime”.  

“I am concerned at the rate of, especially these types of acts but also gender based violence, that is increasing in our community… I want to also do a plea on to the community‘s residents to be an ear and eye for the law enforcement agencies and to speak out against these violent acts,” said Lightburn. 

There are conflicting accounts regarding the court matter, with the exact details on whether the suspect has been discharged and whether he has made a court appearance being murky at this stage. Lightburn, however, suggests that the suspect will appear in court on Monday.