A 29-year-old man from Masethe, in the Tshitale area, is facing charges of kidnapping and murder after the body of a woman, also from Masethe, was discovered.
The woman, identified as Nkhangweleni Mavis Musesi (47), mysteriously disappeared earlier in September this year. When she could not be found at her house or anywhere, a family member reported her as missing.
On 15 September, the relative received a strange call from an unknown man, from Musesi's cellphone, who told the relative that she had been kidnapped. The man demanded a ransom of R5 000 for her release. The relative went back to the police and informed them about the phone call. A kidnapping case was opened, which was taken over by the Provincial Organised Crime Unit for further investigation.
On 9 October, Musesi's body was found inside her own house at Masethe by a family member, who decided to go back to the house. The body was already in a state of decomposition by then. A case of murder was subsequently opened and further investigations ensued.
The tireless probing into the case by the police finally paid off. One suspect was arrested at Greenside village, in the Westenburg policing area outside Polokwane, on Saturday, 22 October. According to Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the suspect was in possession of the same cellphone that was used to demand the ransom. They are still looking for more suspects connected to the kidnapping and murder.
Konanani Masindi appeared in the Tshitale Magistrate's Court on Monday, 24 October. His case was postponed to 2 November, for a Legal Aid representative to be appointed and possible bail arrangements to be made. The accused remains in custody.
Limpopo police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe saluted the members of the investigating team for working around the clock to ensure the suspects were all arrested. "We are appealing to community members to assist with information about the remaining suspects," she said.
Anyone with information that can assist in the apprehension of the remaining suspects can contact Lt Col Rodney Ndou on 082 807 2666, the Crime Stop number 08600 10111, their nearest police station or MySAPSApp.