The quiet community of Mosiane View in the North West province was left reeling after a 25-year-old man brutally murdered his 48-year-old mother, only to be shot dead by a neighbor who tried to stop the horrific scene.

The incident, which unfolded on Saturday, was captured on social media, showing the young man repeatedly striking his mother with a shovel in a shocking act of violence that has since gone viral.

According to North West police spokesperson Captain Sam Tselenyane, the situation took an even more tragic turn when a concerned neighbor rushed in to intervene. “Preliminary reports suggest the neighbor attempted to stop the assault and allegedly shot the suspect to calm him down,” Tselenyane said.

Police have confirmed that both the mother and son died at the scene. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but authorities suspect that drug abuse may have been a contributing factor in the son’s violent behavior.

Residents of Mosiane View have expressed deep shock and sorrow over the incident, describing the family as quiet and reserved. “We never expected something like this to happen here,” said one neighbor. “It’s heartbreaking.”

The police are investigating two cases — murder and culpable homicide — as they continue to piece together the events that led to the double tragedy.