Taxi driver and ex-boyfriend in court for the alleged murder of local woman
She was a financial clerk in the Ga-Kgoshigadi Malepe Tribal office in Maakubu and resided in Ga-Mashishi Village. She went missing from the Burgersfort CBD.
BURGERSFORT – Two suspects appeared in the Praktiseer Magistrate’s court on Thursday for the alleged murder of Conny Makokong Sekhukhune (36).
The duo are facing a charge of murder.
Moeti Frank Mnisi (47) and Jackson Mahudu Mohubedi (31) first appeared in the same court on September 16 for the alleged murder of Sekhukhune, but the case was postponed to September 22 for bail application and the accused remained in custody. The men were denied bail.
Sekhukhune had been missing since September 9.
She was a financial clerk in the Ga-Kgoshigadi Malepe Tribal office in Maakubu and resided in Ga-Mashishi Village.
She went missing from the Burgersfort CBD.
The family reported the matter to the police and a missing person’s case was immediately opened.
“This comes after the family suspected that the ex-boyfriend (Mnisi) might be involved in her disappearance, because there was a protection order issued against him before the couple separated.
“The police conducted a search for the victim at Mnisi’s house, but she was not found. They did discover some bloodstains on the floor of the kitchen. The Provincial Forensic Crime Scene Management Unit was summoned to the scene to conduct forensic analysis and investigations,” said Limpopo SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.
On Wednesday September 14 at approximately 13:00, the police received a report from a member of the community about a body of a woman found in the bushes along the R555 next to Thaba Moshate Hotel.
Malesela said, “A joint search operation was conducted by the Burgersfort detectives, the Provincial Detective Task Team, and the Burgersfort and Tzaneen K9 units, and they managed to recover the body in a decomposed state. The deceased was positively identified by a family member on the scene.”
He said the SAPS immediately commenced with the investigation, which led to an arrest of the driver of a maxi-taxi (mohubedu) who allegedly transported the deceased’s body from her boyfriend’s house to the bushes.
“A manhunt for the boyfriend continued. He was ultimately found and arrested with visible injuries sustained after he was severely assaulted by unknown individuals.”
The boyfriend was treated for his injuries before he appeared in court on Friday.
Speaking during a GBV event hosted by Samancor Eastern Chrome Mines at the Winterveld Recreational Club on Friday, Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe hailed the apprehension of the two men.
“This is one of the horrendous incidents of GBV in which a young woman lost her life at the hands of a heartless man. It is a sad moment for the family, and the recovery of the body will bring some closure. I would like to commend the team that was involved in the search operation and also thank members of the community for providing valuable information that led to the recovery of the body.”
Police investigations continue.
