By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
A 40 year-old male suspect was apprehended for the alleged murder of his 31 year-old female companion at Vezubuhle in Kwamhlanga.
The suspect was reportedly nabbed at a place of hiding in Mamelodi, outside Pretoria, on Thursday 17 October following a police manhunt.
Speaking for the police in Mpumalanga, Captain Magonseni Nkosi, said the deceased woman’s family reported the matter to the police after she went missing a week earlier.
The family reportedly suspected that the victim was kept captive or murdered and police were summoned to a house on Sunday morning of 13 October where her lifeless body was discovered buried in a shallow grave and covered with cement.
“ Police managed to open the deceased partner’s room. It was realised that the floor has been recently refurbished and that raised suspicion. The deceased’s partner was nowhere to be found, and police immediately launched an investigation,” said Captain Nkosi.
The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major-General(Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, said community members must report incidents of Gender-Based Violence to the police in order to avoid any loss of life.
“ We welcome the arrest, and the members’ efforts did not go unnoticed,” said General Mkhwanazi.
The suspect is expected to appear before Kwamhlanga Magistrate’s Court on Monday 21 October.
