Cape Town – Five suspects from Mozambique, aged between 19 and 40, were arrested in connection with the murder and hijacking of a 64-year-old Nkangala District Municipality manager.
The victim, who worked as the Divisional Manager of Communication, Marketing, and Branding, was killed over the weekend while en route to a meeting in Witbank.
The suspects are set to appear in the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court today, facing multiple charges, including murder, hijacking, and possession of suspected stolen property.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli, the victim was reported missing on Sunday, 29 September 2024, after his family failed to reach him.
#sapsMP Nkangala District’s Communication Manager hijacked and murdered; five Mozambican nationals arrested. The five suspects are expected to appear at Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court today to face multiple charges, including murder, hijacking and possession of suspected stolen… pic.twitter.com/9FNnCEBKk1
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 1, 2024
“The family is said to have attempted to get hold of him but without any luck. After the family reported him missing at Kwamhlanga Police Station as well as alerting Witbank SAPS, they also notified the tracking company, and the victim’s vehicle was located near a fuel station in Witbank,” Mdhluli said.
The coordinated efforts of the tracker company and South African Police Service (SAPS) officers led to the swift arrest of the suspects.
They were found with personal items belonging to the victim, and a subsequent investigation uncovered the victim’s body in bushes near the fuel station.
Authorities are working with the Department of Home Affairs to verify the suspects’ immigration status, with potential charges related to the Immigration Act also under consideration.
Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the quick action taken by the integrated team, saying, “The collaboration between the tracker company and SAPS members was instrumental in bringing the suspects to justice. We await the legal process to unfold and seek justice for the slain victim.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
