Five arrested for four murders in Pienaar
The police made the arrests between December 16 and 27. Two of the suspects face an additional charge of kidnapping.
The Pienaar SAPS have arrested five suspects, aged between 29 and 38, for four different murders.
According to a Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, in one of the incidents, the police responded to a shooting in Mashego village and found a victim shot in his upper body.
“The victim was certified dead by medical personnel at the scene. A firearm was found next to the body. The police immediately instituted an investigation which led to the arrest of a 38-year-old suspect on December 27.”
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He said two other suspects, a tavern owner, aged 33, and the other 35, were arrested on December 26, on charges of kidnapping and murder.
“It is alleged that they were with their friends travelling in a Toyota Hilux, and kidnapped the victim on December 16 after accusing him of theft. The victim was allegedly assaulted and kept inside the tavern during the ordeal.”
Mohlala said further details indicated that the following morning, on December 17, he was transferred to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
He said the suspects did not report any theft case.
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Another arrest, on December 16, involved a suspect, aged 38, who was initially a robbery victim who fought back when three men allegedly robbed him of his wallet. He allegedly stabbed one of the robbers who was taken to the clinic by his friends and died on arrival.
On December 22, the police attended to a complaint in which a victim was stabbed.
“The motive behind the attack is currently unknown, but police managed to connect a 29-year-old suspect who was arrested.”
It is unknown when the suspects will appear in court.
