The police's number one suspect with regard to the violent crime spree in the Soutpansberg area over the past two months is a 24-year-old Zimbabwean man who escaped from police custody in October 2010.
Brighton Chauke escaped along with four fellow detainees from the police's holding cells in Musina on October 4 last year. This follows his arrest and that of his brother, the 28-year-old Shorty Chauke, on three charges of armed robbery in Louis Trichardt during 2009 and a murder case in Musina.
Eyewitnesses identified Brighton from a police photo. The police appealed to anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact their nearest police station, but not to confront him as he is considered armed and dangerous.