The Siyabuswa police arrested two men on Thursday April 7 for allegedly assaulting world-renowned Ndebele artist Dr Esther Mahlangu and stealing her firearm. A provincial police spokesperson, Brig Selvy Mohlala, said the men, aged 32 and 37, were arrested after the police had taken seven people in for questioning. Five of them could not be linked to the attack and were released. “The police had received a tip-off regarding the stolen firearm. During the questioning, one suspect pointed to another who had allegedly sold him the gun. This person claimed he had bought it from another suspect, who pointed out another, claiming he had sold him the gun. It was discovered in the suspect aged 32’s toilet cistern, wrapped in a plastic bag.

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“The other suspect, aged 37, confessed to breaking into Mahlangu’s house, taking the safe containing cash and a firearm,” said Mohlala.

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Mahlangu was robbed and attacked at her residential place in Weltevreden near Siyabuswa on Saturday March 19 around 15:00. During the robbery, the pensioner was reportedly assaulted and strangled and her hands were tied with a cord. The suspect searched her bedroom and took a safe containing a 7.65mm pistol as well as an undisclosed amount of cash and bundles of keys, and fled the scene.

She had sustained injuries to her face, but was later found by her granddaughter who alerted the neighbours. The two suspects have been charged with possession of an unlawful firearm and house robbery. They are expected to appear in the Mdutjana Magistrate’s Court on Friday April 8.