A 29-year-old suspect will appear in the Mqanduli magistrate court on 30 September 2022, on two charges of murder and one charge of rape after the bodies of a 56-year-old woman and a 3-year-old girl was found in Upper Cezu locality.
It is alleged that Mothando Bhavu and her granddaughter were asleep on the night of 28 September 2022 when the suspect kicked open the door and entered.
The elderly woman was dragged into the lounge where she was allegedly raped and stabbed with a knife.
It is further alleged that the suspect then went into the bedroom and suffocated the child, Achimile Bhavu, to death.
At about 07:45, community members alerted police to the gruesome murders. While police were conducting initial investigation at the scene, the suspect who is the neighbour to the deceased was arrested.
The suspect’s house was searched and the murder weapon as well as blood stained clothing was found.
He was immediately arrested and detained on the mentioned charges.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene applauded the community’s involvement in working with the police to ensure a swift arrest. ‘Community members are central in the fight against crime as they know and see everything that is happening in their communities.
We cannot allow criminals to dwell among the vulnerable and commit such heinous crimes. One victim raped or killed, is one too many. Women and children are hurt, raped and murdered by the people they know and trust therefore we need to work together to make sure that they are apprehended,’ added Lt Gen Mene.
