Swift action by members of the Sawoti SAPS, Umzinto SAPS Detectives, Umzinto Task Team and the Umzinto K9 Unit resulted in the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of a deceased policeman’s cellphone and torch.
Police also seized the blood stained clothing that the alleged murderers had been wearing during the commission of the crime.
They have been detained pending their first appearance in the Umzinto Magistrates’ Court on 18 October 2017 on charges of murder and robbery.
It is alleged that a grey Chev Aveo belonging to Warrant Officer Thulani Nicholus Mkhize (50), who was stationed at Sawoti SAPS, was found abandoned on the R612, Ixopo Main Road at Equeefa, on the opposite side of the road, facing on coming traffic.
He sustained multiple stab wounds and was found in the dense bushes alongside the road close to the vehicle. The policeman, who stayed at the Sawoti SAPS single quarters, was off duty at the time of his murder.
At this stage, the motive for the murder is believed to be robbery. Preliminary investigations and a search for the suspects commenced in earnest immediately after the horrific discovery was made and the suspects, aged 27 and 28 were apprehended.
A knife, believed to be the murder weapon has been recovered by police. The case is being investigated by Umzinto SAPS detectives.
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