Standerton Police made a breakthrough when information from the public was received by arresting three suspects and retrieving a body from the Vaal River in Standerton, after Mqobi Surprise Mkhwanazi was reported missing on Tuesday, July 19.

According to a media statement by the Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, his body was dumped in the river on Thursday, July 21.

Police say three suspects, aged between 23 and 31 have been arrested, while another 21-year-old man was detained for questioning.

According to information, police were hard at work in trying to locate the man since he went missing.

Members of the public then came on board with information regarding his disappearance. The information was shared with police, indicating that Mkhwanazi did not just vanish into thin air, but was allegedly kidnapped by suspects driving a white BMW.

The details were followed by the investigators who cornered two suspects in Standerton on July 21.

During their investigation, police learned that the victim was shot and killed. Information obtained from the suspects led to finding his body.

The body was partially burnt when he was retrieved from the river.

The third suspect was nabbed in Sakhile the same day and reportedly found in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The firearm is suspected to be the murder weapon.

Police confiscated two vehicles, a white BMW as well as a white Mazda double cab bakkie, allegedly used during the crime.

The suspects appeared in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Monday where they were charged with murder, kidnapping, defeating the ends of justice as well as possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Police indicated that they cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges as the investigation continues.

The motive for the killing has not yet been established or known at this stage.

Manamela strongly condemned the killing and commended police for the swift arrest, saying it can be attributed to the contribution made by members of the public, as well as the detectives.

“What has transpired after the victim was kidnapped, should set an example of what must happen when someone witnesses a crime and what police ought to do so the perpetrators are swiftly brought to account for their actions,” she says.

“No one should keep quiet when they have some kind of information because if they do, perpetrators will get away with murder in the true sense of the word.”