In a surprising twist of events, the former boyfriend of the girl who was stabbed to death at Hamagidi earlier this month "came back from the dead" and was arrested in Mokopane last week. The boyfriend, who had been wanted in connection with the killing, had reportedly died and his mutilated body had supposedly been found in the plantations next to Thathe Vondo Dam.
The 27-year-old Azwinndini Richard Mamali had been on the run since the death of the 19-year-old Ridodzula Mudzanani on 3 September this year at Hamagidi near Thohoyandou. The incident happened at night when Mudzanani and a male friend of hers encountered Mamali, with whom Mudzanani apparently shared two children. When Mudzanani screamed that she had been stabbed, Mamali had allegedly fled from the scene. A manhunt was launched by the police to try and trace him.
On Friday, 8 September, a week after Mudzanani's murder, the body of a man was found in the Thathe Vondo forest. He was lying on his stomach, half naked, with acid burns to his body. Both his wrists were cut open, his head was smashed in with rocks, and his buttocks were cut off. The police said that he had also been shot as an empty cartridge and the percussion cap of a pistol had been found at the scene, along with Mamali's ID, driver's licence, and other personal items, which had led them to believe that the body was Mamali's.
As investigations continued, however, the deceased individual's own ID was found inside his pockets, and what became clear was that the body did not belong to Mamali after all, and therefore they continued to trace their suspect. The identity of the deceased man has not been made public by the police.
Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said Mamali had been apprehended by members of the Thohoyandou Task Team at Mahwelereng, Zone 17 in Mokopane, in the Waterberg District, on Tuesday, 19 September, after they had received a tip-off about his hiding out in the area.
Mamali's older sister, Thivhakoni Mamali, was summoned by the police, and she confirmed that the person arrested was her younger brother. Police investigations continue.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe, warned criminals that they could not run forever. "I can assure criminals that the long arm of the law shall never fail, it will follow and catch up with you no matter how long it takes and how far you go. It is evident that they will be nabbed, prosecuted, and incarcerated for the evil crimes they commit in society," she said.
Ms Vhengani Mamali, the suspect's mother, told the media that the family was still baffled by the whole situation.
Mamali appeared in the Thohoyandou magistrate court on 26 September on two counts of murder. He remains in custody until his next appearance on 2 November.