Limpopo police have made a major breakthrough in their investigation and arrested of five suspects in connection with the abduction and murder of two people – a male and female, whose remains were exhumed at separate sites over the weekend.
According to police reports, the two victims were reported missing under mysterious circumstances during February and July of 2022.
According to police investigations, a 33-year-old woman left her home in Sekonye village in Botlokwa in February 2022 in order to visit Louis Trichardt. In the meantime, the 40-year-old victim was kidnapped in July 2022 from his home in Tshilwavhusiku for allegedly stealing copper cables and is believed to be a victim of vigilantism.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said investigations conducted by the Task Team subsequently managed to uncover the long kept secret.
This revealed the woman was actually kidnapped by the suspects who in the process tortured and subsequently killed and buried her in a shallow grave.
“The woman was killed after she reportedly refused to surrender a property in Makhado which was initially used as a brothel,” said Brigadier Mojapelo.
Police investigations revealed that the victims were buried in shallow graves in Rathidili and Madodonga villages respectively.
He said forensic investigations are underway to make a conclusive identification of the remains.
“Two of the suspects were already in custody for murder and other serious crimes. The other three were concerned about their hideout in Mahwelereng and were arrested.”
Brigadier Mojapelo said police recovered a 9mm pistol with its serial number filed off and eight rounds of ammunition.
All these suspects are alleged to be the same individuals who had been in charge of a vigilante group in Tshilwabusiku and the neighbouring villages under Makhado policing areas.
Limpopo Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the team for the sterling investigations that led to these arrests.
The five suspects appeared in Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court on Monday and their case was postponed.
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