“It is clear that her husband did not take it well and we only realised this when it was too late”
A 42-YEAR-old man, Collin Solomons, made a brief appearance in the Upington Magistrate’s Court in connection with the murder of his wife, Samoline Petra Solomons, who was shot several times on Sunday.
The incident was reportedly triggered by an argument between the couple, who had been married for 13 years.
Solomons mother and her 10-year-old daughter apparently witnessed the tragedy.
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Mohale Ramatseba, said the 36-year-old-mother was shot several times in front of her child and her elderly mother outside her home in Belleview, Upington, and died on the scene.
“The supsect was arrested by the Upington police in connection with the murder,” said Ramatseba.
Solomons is expected to make another court appearance in Upington soon for a formal bail application.
Family members were left shocked by the incident and said yesterday that despite the fact that the couple’s marriage was clouded by violence, threats and infidelity, they “did not see this coming”.
Solomon’s brother, David Loubser, said he was called to his mother’s house only to find his sister’s lifeless body on the ground.
He lives just three streets away from where the incident happened.
According to Loubser, the couple were facing a divorce and his sister had moved back home two weeks ago.
“It is clear that her husband did not take it well and we only realised this when it was too late,” he added.
While the family is busy making funeral arrangements, Solomon’s 67-year-old mother and 10-year-old daughter, are currently undergoing counseling.
Solomons leaves behind two children, a 10-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son.
The Democratic Alliance in the Province has meanwhile expressed concern about the trending gender violence throughout the Province.
DA Northern Cape Provincial spokesperson on Gender, Priscilla Isaacs, called on family and community members to speak up against domestic violence.
She urged victims to exhaust every legal means possible to keep themselves safe against their abusers and stop them from traumatising, mutilating, and killing their loved ones.
“It is not just Solomons who died on that day; it is also the death of the dreams her parents had for her future, and the death of the dreams their family shared.
“Her children will now not have their mother at their first day of high school, their last day of Grade 12, their graduations, their weddings, or the baptisms of their first children. What has been taken from the family is far more than can be described in words,” said Isaacs.
Elaborating on the recent gender based violence that has happened in the last two months she added: “For the sake of the women and children in our Province, we need to embark on a new path, away from femicide and violence.
“Keeping our families safe is not only a matter for government, but it calls for communities to stand together and fight for the preservation of life.”
