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A man has been charged with murdering his wife and two young daughters after being arrested in South Africa following an international manhunt.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had authorised three counts of murder against Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, ۴۵, after he was arrested on Friday in Kensington, a suburb of Johannesburg.
Tshuma’s wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, ۴۲, who was known as Zandile, and the couple’s daughters, Natalie, ۱۵, and Nala, five, were found dead at their home in Great Denham, near Bedford, on Monday after concerns were raised that the family had not been seen for several days.
Emma Davies, the chief crown prosecutor, said: “This comes after the careful review of evidence provided by Bedfordshire police. Our thoughts remain with Zandile, Natalie and Nala’s loved ones and with everyone affected by what has happened.”
Davies said criminal proceedings were now active and urged people not to publish or share material that could prejudice the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
Bedfordshire police said Tshuma, a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage who is also known as Mark, had been remanded in custody in South Africa while arrangements were made to return him to the UK.
South African police said he had been traced and arrested through “swift operational coordination and intelligence-led policing”. He is due to appear before a court in Johannesburg on Monday.
Det Insp Lee Martin, the senior investigating officer, said the inquiry had involved “multiple law enforcement partners”, including the National Crime Agency, Interpol and authorities in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“Thanks to the tireless work and dedication of all those involved, we have managed to swiftly locate and arrest Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, who we want to speak to in connection with this shocking and tragic case,” Martin said.
“Our investigation remains ongoing and we’ll be working closely with our counterparts in South Africa, as well as the National Crime Agency and the Crown Prosecution Service, to bring him back to this country.”
Before his arrest, police believed Tshuma had flown from Heathrow to Zimbabwe on Saturday, two days before the bodies of his wife and daughters were discovered. Detectives had issued an international appeal to locate him.
Tributes have been paid to the three victims by relatives, schools and colleagues.
In a statement released through Bedfordshire police, members of the Khumalo family – Zandile Tshuma’s birth surname – said they were “deeply saddened” by the deaths.
“During this time of unimaginable loss, we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has reached out with prayers, messages of comfort, and support,” they said. “Your kindness and compassion have brought great strength to our family.”
Nala’s headteacher described the five-year-old as “a little ray of sunshine”, while Bedford Girls’ school said Natalie was a “bright and accomplished” pupil who was “dearly loved by everyone”.
Zandile’s employer, Forensic Risk Alliance, said her colleagues were “heartbroken”, describing her as a “much-loved and valued member” of staff whose warmth and kindness would be deeply missed.
