Cape Town — Three men have been arrested and taken into custody after they allegedly assaulted, kidnapped and murdered a 74-year-old German tourist in Northam, Limpopo.
According to SAPS, Limpopo Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Thembi Hadebe, praised police for their swift response in arresting the suspects. The are believed to be aged between 24 and 46. The victim departed from Botswana on Friday, and drove to South African in a sedan motor vehicle. He arrived in Lephalale in the Waterberg District on Saturday morning where he offered a lift to an unknown hitchhiker.
“Along the way, he (the victim) requested him to assist with accommodation around North West province before he could proceed with his tour across the country. Preliminary reports indicate that the pair established a friendship to an extent that the victim requested the man to drive his vehicle.” Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said.
#sapsLIM Three suspects have been arrested after they brutally assaulted and killed a German tourist (74) at Northam in Waterberg District on 24/02. The victim offered a hitchhiker a lift and was lured to a place where the suspects tied him up and started to assault him while… pic.twitter.com/G1OFNWRupe
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) February 25, 2024
The victim informed his “friends” that he was expecting a large amount of cash from his family overseas. They then drove to the victim’s place where, upon arrival, they tied him up and started to assault him while demanding his bank pin code. They also searched him and took an undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables.
The men removed the number plates from the car and drove the suspect to Northam, assaulting him on the way. The victim was then dragged to the bushes. Police were then alerted to an incident by security officials who spotted the suspicious vehicle, as well as the suspects blooded t-shirt.
“Upon their arrival, they started with their initial investigations, and the victim’s body was found in the bushes. The two suspects had already fled the scene. An intelligence driven operation was activated, and the two suspects were arrested in Northwest province later in the evening, in possession of some of the deceased’s belongings.” Ledwaba said.
“The victim had trusted this ruthless criminal, but he turned against him and, together with his friends, tortured and brutally killed him. We will work hard to secure a water tight case that will result in a lengthy conviction for these perpetrators”, said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
The three men are scheduled to appear in the Northam Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 February 2024, on charges, including murder.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Pixabay
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
