Cape Town – A 32-year-old man has been detained under police guard in hospital following the murder of his 17-year-old girlfriend and her grandmother, 63, at Emadamini near Ermelo in Mpumalanga.
The two bodies were found on Monday, police said in a statement.
“The granny and granddaughter’s lifeless bodies were found in their house by family members after being contacted by the granddaughter’s employer who was worried that she failed to show up for work on Monday,” said police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
The family members reportedly enquired from neighbours about the two’s whereabouts, as the house doors were locked and they were not answering phone calls.
“The granddaughter’s boyfriend is said to have been contacted to give family members the house keys but he reportedly denied any knowledge of the keys. When asked about the whereabouts of his girlfriend, he allegedly mentioned that his girlfriend was in hospital as she indicated that she was not feeling well,” Mohlala said.
ALSO READ | Mpumalanga man, 25, held for allegedly killing his grandmother, 68
At about 18:00 on Monday, concerned family members allegedly broke the house window and that was when they discovered the two lifeless bodies covered with blankets.
Both deceased had head injuries and bruises all over said Mohlala.
A police report indicated that community members launched a manhunt for the boyfriend in the hope that he would shed some light on what might have happened.
The boyfriend was tracked down on Tuesday morning and reportedly handed himself over to the police at about 02:00.
“He sustained some injuries and community members alleged that he stabbed himself with a knife. Police then apprehended him for questioning, hence placed him under police guard in hospital so that he could give clarity and information that may assist in the investigation,” Mohlala said.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela condemned the gruesome murder of the two women and said that the person behind the murders will face the full might of the law.
“A team of investigators has been assembled to investigate and we hope that they will make a breakthrough soon,” said Manamela.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Pexels
For more Africa news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
