NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, has thanked the community for providing the police with information that ensured a major breakthrough in a murder case. This information led to the arrest of a 35-year-old suspect, Skhumbuzo Patrick Khoza, who was sought by police in connection with the murder of 25-year-old Laurencia Zinhle Mathebula. The suspect was cornered and arrested by police in the late hours of Sunday, 05 January 2020, at Oshoek Border Post and made a brief appearance at the Eerstehoek Magistrates Court yesterday, 06 January 2020.
Khoza was remanded in custody until his next appearance on 16 January 2020, for formal bail application at the same court.
The arrest of Khoza came as a result of a dreadful incident that occurred on 26 December 2019 where Mathebula was killed. On that fateful day Mathebula was walking with her cousin when Khoza allegedly approached them, requesting to have a conversation with Mathebula. The cousin then left the two to have a private conversation and moments later, he heard gunshots. He (cousin) then went to investigate and found that Mathebula had been shot multiple times and immediately alerted the police, who upon arrival found Mathebula’s lifeless body and that the suspect had fled the scene in his white bakkie. Medical personnel were summoned to the scene as well, where the victim was certified dead.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, has expressed his gratitude to the community as well as the police for their alertness, sterling work, honesty and cooperation. “The community is our eyes and ears. As police, we really value the partnership that we have with members of the public because these suspects commit crimes then go into hiding and as such we rely on them to assist police in locating and arresting such suspects,” said General Zuma.
Meanwhile police are still hunting down suspect(s) in connection with a case of murder in which another 25 year old woman, Simphiwe Mtsweni, was killed at Tweefontein and her body was found near Zamani Primary School. The incident took place on Saturday, 28 December 2019, wherein police were alerted by members of the community regarding a woman’s body that was seen lying in an open field.
Police rushed to the scene and upon arrival, discovered the lifeless body Simphiwe with multiple stab wounds.
A murder case was opened and police continue to appeal for assistance with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) by calling Captain Vusimuzi Mahlangu at 0823189894 or contact Tweefontein SAPS on 0829229412. Members of the public can also call 10111 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Alternatively the public can download MYSAPSAPP to anonymously send valuable information to police.
Source: South African Police Service