Remembrance service held for mum and two daughters

A memorial service has been held for a mother and her two daughters who are believed to have been murdered in their home.

Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were discovered deceased in Great Denham, near Bedford, on July 6. An inquest into their deaths, which commenced on Tuesday, stated that they succumbed to head injuries.

Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, who was apprehended in Johannesburg on suspicion of murdering his wife and two children, remains in custody in South Africa.

Nearly 500 mourners gathered at Bedford's Corn Exchange for the service. Among the tributes read was one from Nala's class teacher, Nikki Woodworth, who remarked that "her hugs were legendary."

Friends, family, teachers, and colleagues of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and her daughters Nala and Natalie assembled to pay their respects.

In a tribute, the extended family of five-year-old Nala shared that "her smile could brighten the darkest day."

Michelle Ncube, Zandile's cousin, addressed the attendees, stating: "Words cannot begin to describe the depth of our loss. We grieve the loss of the future that has been stolen from them and from us. She blessed us with her dry wit, her intelligence. She loved gardening. But she didn't just nurture flowers, she nurtured people."

She added that Zandile was "completely devoted" to her daughters and that "everything she did was with their future in mind."

Zandile's sister, residing in Zimbabwe, sent a message that was read aloud by an aunt. "She was more than my sister…sharing a bond through a lifetime of memories," the message read. "[The loss has] created a void in our hearts and our family that words can hardly describe…life will never be the same without them."

The service was initially planned for St James Church, Biddenham, which organized the event. However, it was relocated to the Corn Exchange to accommodate the anticipated number of attendees.

Gemma Gibson, headmistress of Bedford Girls School, where Natalie was a student, also attended the service. "When we think of Natalie as a young girl, we picture her smile first...it simply reflected the beautiful person she was," she said. "She was a composed and thoughtful pupil who loved learning...but it was her kindness that left the biggest impression."

Natalie represented the school 107 times in various sports, including lacrosse, tennis, and hockey. "She will forever be loved and remembered by all of us at Bedford Girls' School," the head teacher affirmed.

Jabu Ncube, one of the service organizers, had known Zandile for 20 years, having met her at university. He posed to the gathering: "How do you find words to confirm something that is unspeakable? How do you find words to comprehend something that is incomprehensible? I have the task of finding the words. Remember them as the angels that they are."

Toby, one of Zandile's colleagues from the forensic data analytics team at Forensic Risk Alliance in London, told those present that she displayed "exceptional professionalism…sharp intelligence and a passion for her work with kindness."

Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma was arrested in Johannesburg on July 10 on an unlicensed firearms charge and subsequently appeared in court accused of illegally possessing firearms. South African courts will determine whether a British extradition request meets the legal requirements for his transfer back to the UK. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized three murder charges against him.

Statements from the coroner's officers revealed that the mother died from "head injuries," while the children's cause of death was listed as "blunt force head injuries." The inquest has been adjourned to a future date.

Funerals for all three family members are scheduled to take place next week in Zimbabwe.