A 27-year-old former South African Police Service (SAPS) constable is expected to appear in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court, in Mpumalanga, on Monday, 7 June, for allegedly stabbing his 34-year old girlfriend to death.
According to SAPS Mpumalanga spokesperson, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, the suspect allegedly stabbed his lover at his residence near Standerton on Sunday. He then drove the victim’s vehicle to the police station and told SAPS members about the incident.
“He then led [police] together with the medical team to his house and upon arrival, a lifeless body of the woman was found in a pool of blood with visible stab wounds,” said Hlathi.
Hlathi said police arrested the suspect immediately and confiscated a sharp object from the scene which will form part of the murder investigation.
“Women should be protected by men and not suffer senseless violence,” said Major General Thulani Phahla, the acting provincial commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga.
“We believe that justice will be served for this victim and her family,” said Phahla.
Elsewhere in Mpumalanga, Nathi Veronica Ngomane, 49, is expected to appear in Kanyamazane Magistrate’s Court on Monday to make a formal bail application. The suspect was identified by police as allegedly being involved, along with nine other people, in the murder of Sipho Nkosi, 34, in October 2018.
“Nkosi was at home when a group of about 10 suspects stormed into his house at Pienaar near Nelspruit,” said Hlathi.
“Without uttering a word, they kidnapped him in front of his family, robbed some item, including cellphones before they forced Nkosi into their vehicle, a white Nissan NP200 and fled the scene with him.”
Nkosi’s body was found a week later in bushes near Spelanyane, Pienaar. His family identified his body and a murder case was opened.
Ngomane was found at a hiding place in Kanyamazane on Friday, 28 May 2021, following a manhunt and the help of concerned community members who provided information. She made her first court appearance on the day of her arrest.
“The other suspects are still at large and are being sought by police,” said Hlathi.
Police are also seeking suspects in connection with two murders that occurred in Pienaar in the early hours of Sunday, 6 June.
In the first incident, a man was reportedly stabbed to death, police were informed of the incident by paramedics and found a deceased male with stab wounds at the local clinic. A murder case is under investigation.
In the second incident, a group of motorists were reportedly spinning their cars when a collision occurred between the “spinners” and a vehicle that was not involved in the event. The accident led to a squabble, which resulted in a fatal shooting.