Family members of Nokuphila ‘Mimi’ Dlala (22) and her boyfriend Kiwiet Mokoena (35) on Christmas Eve finally received some news about their missing relatives.

The couple were found murdered in Ratanda, Gauteng, after being missing for weeks.

According to the Mokoena family, an ex-girlfriend of Mokoena as well as two men, were arrested in connection with the duo’s murder.

The Vanderbijlpark couple was last seen on December 14 before they were reportedly kidnapped from their home. A manhunt ensued but until three days ago, proved fruitless.

Mokoena’s brother Mohapi Mokoena (39) told Sedibeng Ster that they received a call about the murder of their sought couple.

“We received a call from police around 03:00 on Saturday after three suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of Kiwiet and Mimi. Police told us their investigation led them to the bodies of the couple and three people, including an ex-lover or Kiwiet’s baby mama, were arrested,” he shares.

Mokoena adds that the Kia motor vehicle driven by Kiwiet was reportedly sold after they were killed.

Victor Dlamini (44), one of Kiwiet’s cousins, explains: “Police said the condition of the bodies seemed to suggest that the couple was murdered the same day they were kidnapped, because they were decomposing in the open veld they were dumped in.”

“Cards and other belongings found on the scene matched the description of the couple. The arrested African men said the baby mama is the one who shot the missing duo after they kidnapped them in Vanderbijlpark,” he alleges.

Describing the couple, Dlamini says they were a ‘humble and loving bunch’ with strong family ties.

“Kiwiet was a good man and he always loved his family and people in general. He was a very respectful individual who loved seeing his family together. Ausi Mimi was also close to us after she was introduced following her pregnancy. Mimi also loved people and was free spirited,” he shares.

Mohapi says the Mokoena’s are broken and hope they will get justice.

“We are deeply hurt because we didn’t expect such [a tragedy] would happen [to us]. If we knew that the break up will lead to this, maybe we would have intervened. We hope justice prevails and the arrested people get what they deserve,” adds Mohapi.

Despite several media inquiries to local and provincial police, attempts to get comment didn’t materialise. At the time of publishing this story, police had still not responded to inquiries from Sedibeng Ster.