The body of a woman, previously reported as missing, in Westenburg was discovered in the bushes in Zebediela.
It transpired that Motlanthe was kidnapped at her residence by suspects closely related to her and later killed and buried in a shallow grave in the bushes along Roedtan road in Zebediela. The body was in an early stage of decomposition.
The investigation also revealed that the body of a young man, found in the shallow grave in Apel a week before, is her son, who was also murdered by the same suspect who murdered her. Both bodies were dismembered. A foreign national and a suspect related to the deceased were arrested by the Police investigation team and more arrests are imminent.
The arrested suspects will be charged for double murder, house robbery and kidnapping and are set to appear in Polokwane Magistrate’s Court soon.
The two vehicles belonging to the deceased are still not yet recovered.
This follows a shocking discovery of the body of a 31-year-old young man Nkgoropo Joseph Motlanthe on 04 January 2024 in Apel in a shallow grave who happened to be the son of the missing woman.
The 56-year-old victim, Magdeline Motlanthe, was last seen on Monday afternoon, 08 January 2024, when she left her home in Ivy Park extension 19 to Pretoria. On that day, she was driving her white Toyota Hilux.
Her family opened a missing person’s case at the Westenburg Police Station after realising she had never reached her destination.
The Westenburg detectives immediately commenced with investigations, which led to the arrest of a 32-year-old man, on Saturday morning, 13 January, at Ga-Choene Village, who is related to the deceased.
The deceased was positively identified by the family as Magdeline Motlanthe.
The second suspect, a foreign national man, was arrested in Polokwane on the same date and was found in possession of the deceased’s cellphone.
Police have opened a case of murder and kidnapping.
Circumstances surrounding the incidents are being investigated.
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has expressed her unequivocal condemnation of this horrific incidents.
“The violence perpetuated to the vulnerable sector of our society is condemned in its strongest terms. Our teams are hard at work to leave no stone unturned to ensure that justice is served.” Concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.
The suspects are expected to appear before Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 16 January 2024.
Anyone with additional information relating to the incidents can contact the Investigating Officer Captain Eddie Hlaraka on 082 729 0049, Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use MySAPS App.
Police investigations continue.
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