A Pretoria family is demanding justice after 34-year-old Maria Mosima was found dead inside her boyfriend’s room in Kwaggasrand.
Her relatives believe her body remained there for about two days while they desperately tried to contact her. A postmortem later identified poisoning as the cause of the mother of two’s death.
However, the family suspects that something more sinister happened. They reportedly noticed bruises and swelling on Maria’s body after making the devastating discovery.
Police have opened a murder case and arrested a 38-year-old suspect. He has also appeared in court as the investigation into Maria Mosima’s death continues.
Maria left home to visit her boyfriend
Maria reportedly left her family home on Tuesday, 14 July 2026. She planned to visit her boyfriend, who lived a short distance away.
However, concern grew when Maria suddenly stopped answering her phone.
Her mother, Manoko Mosima, said she began calling Maria on Wednesday, 15 July. Despite trying several times, she received no response from her daughter.
Therefore, Manoko sent one of her children to check on Maria the following day.
According to the family, the boyfriend claimed Maria was sleeping and did not want to wake up. He also allegedly refused to let the concerned family member enter his room.
Maria’s relatives eventually entered the room shortly after 8 am on Friday, 17 July. They found her body lying on the bed.
The boyfriend reportedly told the family that he had discovered Maria dead after waking up. However, her relatives questioned why he had not informed them or contacted emergency services.
Manoko believes her daughter had already been dead for approximately two days. Police have not publicly confirmed Maria’s exact time of death.
Postmortem raises more questions
The postmortem identified poisoning as Maria’s official cause of death.
Nevertheless, her family wants investigators to determine what substance caused the poisoning. They also want to know how it entered her body.
Moreover, relatives said Maria had bruises and swelling when they found her. They believe the injuries could indicate that someone assaulted her before she died.
These suspicions remain part of the family’s account. Police will need forensic evidence, witness statements and information from the room to establish what happened.
Manoko also claimed that Maria had experienced violence during her relationship.
She alleged that the boyfriend regularly assaulted her daughter. Furthermore, she claimed that Maria suffered a stab wound to her breast during an earlier incident in 2026.
Authorities have not publicly released information about that reported incident. However, the family wants detectives to examine Maria’s relationship history as part of the murder investigation.
Police arrest 38-year-old suspect
Gauteng police spokeswoman Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed that officers opened a murder case at the Pretoria West Police Station.
Police arrested a 38-year-old suspect following Maria’s death. The man made his first court appearance on Monday, 20 July.
The court then postponed the case to Monday, 27 July.
However, the police statement quoted in the original report did not reveal the result of that appearance. It also did not disclose the suspect’s name.
Therefore, the man remains a suspect while police and prosecutors continue examining the evidence. A court must determine whether he carries criminal responsibility for Maria’s death.
Investigators will likely consider the postmortem findings, statements from Maria’s relatives and evidence collected from the room.
Family unhappy with communication
Maria’s family also expressed frustration about communication from the investigating officer.
Manoko said the family wanted the officer to visit their home. She believes they have important information about Maria’s relationship and the period before her death.
However, Captain Sibeko said the investigating officer had provided the family with updates about the case.
She encouraged Maria’s relatives to contact the officer directly if they needed more information. Alternatively, they could approach the detective commander at the Pretoria West Police Station.
The different accounts have added to the family’s frustration as they continue seeking answers.
Maria remembered as a loving mother
While the investigation continues, Maria’s relatives want people to remember her life rather than only the circumstances surrounding her death.
Her sister, Kgaugelo Van Huyssteen, described Maria as quiet, hardworking and loving. She also remembered her as someone who enjoyed cracking jokes and dancing.
Maria’s death has left a painful gap in the family home. Most importantly, she leaves behind two children who must now grow up without their mother.
Her family laid her to rest at Laudium Cemetery on Friday, 31 July.
Nevertheless, their fight for answers continues. They want police to establish when Maria died, how she consumed the poison and whether anyone assaulted her before her death.
Further information may emerge as investigators complete their forensic work and the murder case returns to court.
