Five suspects have been arrested in Limpopo for the alleged kidnapping and murder of a man and a woman, whose bodies were discovered over the weekend in shallow graves.
In February and July 2022, the two were reported lost under unexplained circumstances. The woman went missing in February 2022 under Makhado Police precinct and was reported missing earlier in 2023, whereas the man went missing in July 2022 under Tshilwavhusiku Police area.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the 33-year-old woman left Sekonye village in Botlokwa in February 2022 to visit Louis Trichardt.
The Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, stated that the investigations conducted by the Vhembe Task Team uncovered the long-held secret that she was actually kidnapped by the suspects, who tortured and murdered her before burying her in a shallow grave. This occurred after she allegedly refused to surrender a property in Makhado that was formerly a brothel.
Mojapelo stated that the Task Team also obtained information from crime intelligence agents on the kidnapping and murder of a 40-year-old man who was allegedly abducted from his home in Tshilwavhusiku in July 2022 after being accused of stealing copper wires.
The investigation revealed that the victims were buried in shallow graves in the villages of Rathidili and Madodonga, respectively.
“Two of the suspects were previously detained for murder and other serious offenses. The last three were seized and apprehended at their Mahwelereng hideout. The team retrieved an unmarked 9mm pistol along with eight rounds of ammunition.
“Forensic studies are currently underway to identify the remains conclusively. All of these people are reported to be the same persons that led vigilante groups in Tshilwabusiku and the surrounding villages within Makhado police jurisdiction.”
Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo
»Five detained after the bodies of a missing man and woman were found in shallow graves«