Man’s bail denied after allegedly killing three family members with a spade

Zuko Komisa

Romeo Moshe Shibambu was denied bail by the Temba Magistrates’ Court on multiple charges, including three counts of murder.
The charges stem from the alleged fatal assault of three family members (a three-year-old child and his parents) using a garden spade in September 2025.
The court denied his release after the prosecution argued he was a flight risk and a danger to both the community and himself.

A man accused of brutally murdering three family members with a garden spade has been denied bail by the Temba Magistrates’ Court.

Romeo Moshe Shibambu (37), from Suurman, faces three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of malicious property damage. The charges relate to alleged attacks that occurred between 28 and 30 September 2025.

It is alleged that on 30 September, Mr Shibambu, armed with a spade, fatally assaulted three-year-old Kelebogile Neo Gift Baloyi. When the child’s mother, Rose Baloyi (33), and father, Sibusiso Langatshe Baloyi (42), attempted to intervene, they were also allegedly attacked and killed with the same weapon.

Court proceedings revealed that the spree of violence began two days prior, when the accused allegedly assaulted his own sister with the spade. On the day of the triple murder, a taxi driver who attempted to intervene was also allegedly assaulted before the accused drove off in the taxi, dragging the driver. The community eventually apprehended Mr Shibambu.

The court heard that the accused, who represented himself, was opposed for bail by the prosecution, with the investigating officer testifying that Mr Shibambu was a flight risk and a danger to the public, having allegedly expressed suicidal intent.

The Magistrate ruled that it was not in the interests of justice to grant bail. The case has been postponed until 27 November 2025 for further investigation.