Nelson Makhuba murders his family and commits suicide.

Date: 15 Feb 1987
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Nelson Makhuba murders his family and commits suicide.

SA artist Nelson Makhuba, who produced wooden household utensils and tourist trade objects and was also a band leader, committed suicide. Upon his return from Johannesburg exhibition, Makhuba first killed his wife and two daughters. He later doused his museum and himself with petrol and struck a match to set him and his work alight. He survived the fire and hung himself from a tree to die.

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01Sack, S. (1988). The Neglected Tradition, Johannesburg: Johannesburg Art Gallery, p. 119.

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Nelson Makhuba murders his family and commits suicide.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012692

South African History Online (2011) 'Nelson Makhuba murders his family and commits suicide.', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012692 (Accessed: 22 August 2026).

South African History Online, Nelson Makhuba murders his family and commits suicide. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012692, (accessed 22 August 2026).

"Nelson Makhuba murders his family and commits suicide.." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012692. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Nelson Makhuba murders his family and commits suicide.." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012692.