The police in Mpumalanga have launched a manhunt following the discovery of an 80-year-old woman’s body stashed in a freezer at Pankop near Mmamethlake on Monday, 12 October 2020.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the victim was staying with her 10-year-old grandson as well as a caregiver, believed to be from Lesotho, hired by the family to look after the granny. On Monday, the young boy came back from school only to find that there was nobody at home. He realised that the door to the house was wide open but the burglar door was locked. He then began to ask neighbours of the whereabouts of his granny and the caregiver.
The neighbours tried to assist in the search meanwhile other family members were also informed about the matter. Whilst searching, the neighbours became suspicious when they noticed a coffee table, gas stove and a TV set placed on top of the freezer. They then removed the items and discovered the lifeless body of the elderly woman inside the freezer.
The police as well as medical personnel were summoned where the victim was certified dead at the scene. The police opened a case of murder hence the manhunt.
The police appeal to the woman, named MmaThato, to immediately go to the nearest police station as the police believe that she can assist immensely in the investigation. Members of the public who know her whereabouts, are also urged to kindly contact Detective Captain Solomon Moshime at 082 065 1355 or call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or alternatively a tip-off can be submitted through the MySAPS App that can be downloaded to any smartphone.
All information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
At Valbank, a few kilometers from Mmamethlake a similar incident occurred recently between March and September 2020, where a 91-year-old woman was severely assaulted by a caregiver, hired to look after her. After the incident, the 45-year-old suspect fled the scene and the matter was brought to the attention of the police who opened a case of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (GBH). The suspect, believed to be from Lesotho, was traced and arrested in Pretoria. She is expected to appear in the Mbibana Magistrate Court on Friday, 16 October 2020, where she is expected to apply for bail.
The police have strongly condemned the incident as well as the vicious attack on senior citizens because these incidents once again depict a serious moral decay in the society.
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