Police at Standerton made a major breakthrough in a murder case. The body of a 29-year-old man, identified by his family as Mqobi Surprise Mkhwanazi, was found in the Vaal River near Standerton yesterday, Thursday 21 July 2022.
He was reported missing on Tuesday, 19 July 2022. So far three male suspects, aged between 23 and 31 have been arrested whilst another 21-year-old man was detained for questioning.
According to the information, since the man went missing, members of the public then came forward with information regarding the man’s disappearance. This came in handy for the detectives, as the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela would constantly encourage the public to take part in preventing or resolving crime.
The information was shared with police, indicating that Mkhwanazi did not just vanished into thin air but was allegedly kidnapped by some suspects who were driving in a white BMW.
The details were followed by the investigators who cornered two suspects at Standerton on 21 July 2022.
During the investigation, police learned that the victim was shot and killed. The astute members were led through information obtained from suspects to the body of Mkhwanazi in the Vaal River near Standerton.
His lifeless body was partially burnt when he was retrieved from the river.
The third suspect was nabbed at Sakhile on the same day. He was reportedly found in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The firearm is suspected to be the murder weapon. Two vehicles, a white BMW as well as a white Mazda double cab bakkie were further confiscated by police as they were allegedly used during the commission of crime.
The suspects are due to appear at the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 25 July 2022 facing murder, kidnapping, defeating the ends of justice as well as possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges as the investigation continues.
The motive for the killing has not yet been established or known at this stage.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned the senseless killing of the man and further commended the swift arrest of the suspects which can purely be attributed to the contribution made by both members of the public as well as the detectives, who also displayed skilful capabilities in their field of investigation.
“What has transpired after the victim was kidnapped should set an example of what must happen when someone witness a crime and what police ought to do so that at the end of the day, perpetrators are swiftly brought to account for their actions. No one should keep quiet when they have some kind of information because if they do, perpetrators will easily get away with murder in the true sense of the word,” said Lieutenant General Manamela.
