Ivory Park detectives have, after a search that spanned 16 months, arrested a man alleged to have murdered his wife in a domestic violence-related shooting in Ebony Park near Midrand.
The suspect, who is a former soldier, was recently arrested at the Pretoria Central Magistrate’s Court where he was appearing for alleged possession of an unlicensed firearm. So far, it is not clear if the firearm, which the 43-year-old suspect was arrested for, is related to the one that was used in last year’s murder.
Capt Bernard Matimulane, Ivory Park SAPS communications officer, said at the time of the murder, it was reported that the suspect was estranged from his wife and that the two were going through a divorce. The suspect fled the scene immediately after the murder and the police had been looking for him since.
The station commander of Ivory Park SAPS, Brig David Mbongeni Ngcobo, made it clear to the detectives and commanders assigned to the case that they should not rest until the suspect was found and brought to justice to account for the allegation against him.
“The arrest is the culmination of our efforts aimed at ensuring that perpetrators of crimes, and especially domestic violence-related ones, should account for their action. However long it takes, we are prepared to do all that is legally possible to ensure that those that commit crime serve time,” said Ngcobo.
He further urged any person in a relationship to guard against any sign of abuse as it has been shown time and again that spousal murders are preceded by other forms of abuse before they culminate in murders.
“Some signs of abuse in a relationship may be in a form of stalking, controlling behaviour, unauthorised entry into the victim’s residence without their consent, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, damage to property and all forms of intimidation.
“As soon as the above signs begin to rear their heads in a relationship, the victim should start looking for help and letting all of their loved ones know about the situation they are in. Let us all shine the spotlight on domestic violence in our homes and neighbourhoods,” added Ngcobo.
The 43-year-old suspect will appear in Tembisa Magistrate’s Court to face a charge of murder.
