The search for a missing couple, originally from Hamabila village near Ngalavhani in the Mutale area, ended last week when the woman's body was found in the Free State. The woman's boyfriend was arrested after handing himself over to the police in Musina on Friday, 24 January.
Dakalo Nemangwele (34) and Ms Mudzunga Ramalata (29) went missing two weeks ago, sparking a nationwide search. Although they had previously resided in Hamabila, they had relocated to Gauteng. They were reported missing at the Moroka SAPS in Soweto on 17 January.
The police were initially misled when a man told investigators that Nemangwele had borrowed money from him and that the couple had apparently planned to cross into Zimbabwe for spiritual assistance.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba, further investigation revealed that this information was untrue. The police then began suspecting that the 34-year-old man, later identified as Tshilisanani Mboweni, was conspiring with Nemangwele to have his girlfriend killed.
The breakthrough came when a suspect, Evans Mundalamo (24), was arrested on Wednesday, 22 January, at his residence in the Tshamutumbu policing area. "He was found in possession of two unlicensed firearms, including a hunting rifle with ammunition. The suspect appeared before the Musina Magistrate's Court on Friday, 24 January," Ledwaba said.
On Wednesday (22nd), at around 11:00, Mudzunga Ramalata's body was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the bushes along the N1 near Kromdraai in the Free State.
Around midday last Friday, Dakalo Nemangwele handed himself over to the police in Musina. He was charged with murder, alongside Tshilisanani Mboweni, whom the police believe initially tried to mislead them.
The provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the arrests and commended all involved in the meticulous investigation. She also expressed gratitude to the community for providing valuable information that assisted in the swift arrests of the suspects.
Two of the suspects, Nemangwele and Mboweni, briefly appeared in a Free State magistrate's court on Monday, 27 January. Their case was postponed to 3 February for a formal bail application.
Family members of the deceased blamed the killing on domestic violence, stating that the couple had been fighting for some time. Mudzunga's elder brother, Dr Khathutshelo Ramalata, said they had warned her to leave the abusive relationship, but she would not listen.
"I believe my sister was murdered in what can only be described as a premeditated crime, as they were already separated and no longer living together. Her boyfriend was too jealous and planned to kill her," he said. "We as a family are very hurt, but we hope that the police will do their job and ensure justice for our child. No one deserves to be murdered like that," Dr Ramalata added.