MPUMALANGA — A 64-year-old suspect is in custody following a tragic Wakkerstroom murder, having been arrested for allegedly strangling his 18-year-old female friend to death. The arrest comes after the man walked into a local police station to confess to the killing of the teenager.
According to a Police Spokesperson, the harrowing sequence of events began on Monday, 20 July 2026, at approximately 17:00. The suspect arrived at the local Community Service Centre (CSC) and reported to officers that he had killed his young female friend at his residence by strangling her.
Acting on the spontaneous confession, police accompanied the suspect to his home located in the Hlobisa Section of Esizameleni, Wakkerstroom. Upon their arrival, the suspect led officers to one of the rooms where the body of the 18-year-old was discovered. The Police Spokesperson detailed that the deceased was found lying naked beneath bedding. Her clothes had been deliberately placed over the body to cover her face and private parts.
All relevant stakeholders, including Emergency Medical Services (EMS), were immediately summoned to the residence to respond to the scene. EMS personnel officially declared the victim dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations conducted by detectives have uncovered a troubling history between the two individuals. The Police Spokesperson revealed that earlier in the month, the deceased had successfully obtained a protection order against the 64-year-old suspect, highlighting a prior legal intervention regarding their relationship.
Following his confession and the recovery of the body, the suspect was formally arrested. He was expected to make his first appearance at the Wakkerstroom Periodical Court on 22 July 2026 to face charges related to the fatal strangulation.
