Cape Town – A man, Richard Azwindini Mamali, 27, who was facing two murder charges for allegedly killing his girlfriend and another man, was found dead in the holding cells of Thohoyandou police station on Thursday.
His body was discovered hanging in his cell around 05:00, and it is believed to be a suicide.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said Mamali had recently been apprehended after going into hiding following the alleged murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend.
“It is also believed that the suspect was responsible for another murder a week later. The body of a man was discovered in the area.
“Mamali’s ID was found next to the dead man, giving the impression that Mamali was dead but as investigations continued, it transpired that the dead man’s ID was in his pocket,” Ledwaba said.
Authorities also suspect him of being responsible for another murder in the area.
The police initially thought he was dead, but it was later revealed that the deceased man found alongside him had the victim’s ID in his pocket.
Investigations are ongoing, with both the police and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) looking into the matter under the directive of Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: SAPS
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
