Mcelwa Nchabeleng

Mcelwa Nchabeleng

Renowned softball player Thabo Tawane, right, of Mahwelereng Spikes will face murder charges after his wife died at the weekend.

Tawane, 31, who is out on a R2000 bail was initially charged with attempted murder after his wife suffered serious burn wounds last week.

But the charge was changed to murder after his wife, Paledi Tawane, 29, died at the Polokwane Hospital on Sunday.

She was taken to hospital with serious burns. Police said they received reports that they were self-inflicted.

But police arrested her husband a day later on suspicion that he might have burnt his wife because they were told the couple fought often.

The well-known softball player appeared in the Polokwane magistrates' court on Friday and was granted R2000 bail. He will appear in court again on April 13.

Polokwane police spokesman Inspector Lesiba Ramoshaba confirmed that the charge against Tawane has been changed from attempted murder to murder.

"We are going to investigate the matter thoroughly and hope he will cooperate," said Ramoshaba.

Close friends of the couple said the couple's marriage was plagued by arguments and it was apparent that it was headed for collapse.

Paledi, a renowned softball administrator, was one of the six officials suspended by the provincial department of Sports, Arts and Culture in January.

She was suspended after allegations of embezzlement of funds in the staging of the Melting Pot Festival in 2002.

She was recently appointed manager of Softball South Africa's national under-19 squad.