Cape Town – A 34-year-old man who allegedly brutally murdered and buried a farm worker in a shallow grave appeared at the Mookgopong Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Limpopo police arrested Paulus Molwantwana after the body of a man reported missing was discovered in a shallow grave Waterberg District, police said in a statement.
According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the deceased was reported missing at Naboomspruit police station on September 25 and a search ensued.
“On Tuesday 27 September 2022, police received information from a member of the community who witnessed a male suspect known to him assaulting the victim with a pick handle who later succumbed to injuries.
“Afterwards, the suspect took (his) lifeless body to the nearby bushes and buried it in a shallow grave. An intensive search was conducted and resulted in the discovery of the shallow grave and the exhumation of the body which was positively identified by a relative at the scene,” said Mojapelo.
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Following further investigations, the suspect was arrested at his hideout at a local farm and seized evidence, including the murder weapon.
“Subsequently, police managed to arrest the suspect while at his hideout and a murder weapon together with the wheelbarrow believed to be used in the commission of the crime were also seized,” said Mojapelo.
The suspect will return to court on October 6 for a formal bail application.
He faces charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice, said Mojapelo.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
