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A British-Zimbabwean man wanted in the United Kingdom for the alleged murder of his wife and two daughters is expected to make his first court appearance in South Africa on Monday.

Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma is due to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court following his arrest in Kensington, Johannesburg, on Friday.

According to SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Tshuma was arrested during an intelligence-driven operation involving the SAPS Interpol National Central Bureau, Crime Intelligence and the Organised Crime Investigation Unit.

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Mathe said police acted swiftly after receiving information that Tshuma was allegedly in possession of an unlicensed firearm and intended to use it to take his own life.

She confirmed that South Africa has received a provisional extradition request from Interpol Manchester through Interpol Pretoria.

“The full extradition request, including the case docket from the UK, must be submitted within 40 days,” Mathe said.

Tshuma is wanted on three counts of murder relating to the deaths of his wife, Zandile, and their daughters, 15-year-old Natalie and five-year-old Nala.

In South Africa, he also faces a charge of illegal possession of a firearm.

Police allege Tshuma bought the firearm shortly after arriving in Johannesburg on 5 July. Investigators are now trying to determine who sold him the weapon and how much he paid for it.

Mathe said the suspect was not flagged when he entered South Africa because UK authorities only discovered the bodies on 6 July, a day after his arrival.

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He was not yet circulated as a fugitive.

“Despite that, our teams acted before the Red Notice was issued, demonstrating excellent cooperation and intelligence work,” she said.

The extradition process will now proceed in terms of South African law, with the Department of Justice expected to process the UK’s formal request once all the required documentation is received through Interpol.

Following Tshuma’s arrest on 10 July, advocacy organisation Women For Change welcomed the swift action by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Interpol but called for the extradition process to move without delay.

“We are horrified by the brutal murder of our sisters across continents. Violence against women knows no borders, and neither should justice,” the organisation said.

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Women For Change said it was deeply concerned that South Africa continued to appear to be a place where perpetrators believed they could flee to evade accountability.

“We are grateful for the swift arrest of the suspect and now call for urgent action to ensure that the legal process proceeds without delay and that justice is served.”

The organisation extended its condolences to the family and loved ones of Nothabo, Natalie and Nala, adding: “How many more women and girls must lose their lives before the world starts treating femicide with the urgency it deserves? When is enough, enough?”