LIMPOPO – A 39-year-old suspect accused of murdering his girlfriend was arrested on Monday after he ran to the police to avoid being apprehended by community members who had gathered around his hideout, demanding that he face them.

This is after police initiated a manhunt for the suspect who allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend (26) and stabbed three people with a bottle during the incident on Sunday evening in Homu 14B village, Giyani.

According to the police report, the suspect arrived at the residence of the deceased, who was his ex-girlfriend and stood outside the gate, seemingly waiting for her. When he eventually saw her, he allegedly called out to her and requested a glass of water. Trusting his intentions, she went inside to fetch water for him.

However, upon her return, tensions escalated, and a heated argument erupted between them. The verbal dispute quickly turned violent, and amid the confrontation, the suspect reportedly grabbed a beer bottle and used it to assault her, inflicting serious injuries.

The victim, in an attempt to escape the attack, ran into her house, seeking safety from the escalating violence. However, the suspect pursued her aggressively, forcing his way inside.

Once inside, he launched a brutal assault, stabbing her multiple times in a fit of rage. The commotion and her desperate cries for help alerted her family members, who rushed to her aid, trying to intervene and stop the attack.

In his frenzied state, the suspect turned on them as well, wielding a broken bottle as a weapon. He stabbed and injured three family members, including the victim’s mother and her younger brother, leaving them wounded. After inflicting serious harm, he fled the scene in a hurry, vanishing without a trace as the injured family members struggled to tend to their wounds and call for emergency assistance.

Police and paramedics were summoned to the scene. Upon arrival, the victim was certified dead at the scene. Meanwhile, the three injured victims were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

The police reportedly assembled a team to track down the suspect, consisting of members of the Mopani Tracking Team, Giyani detectives, and Giyani Vispol. However, they were unable to locate him on the day of the incident.

Later, they received intelligence regarding the suspect’s whereabouts. When officers arrived at the location, they found a crowd of community members already gathered. Upon spotting the police, the suspect ran toward them for help and was immediately apprehended.

As police investigations continue to gather more details regarding the murder, the suspect is set to appear before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court soon, facing charges of murder and assault.