A man was arrested last night and a firearm was recovered following the murder of a pregnant woman in the Mbombela CBD on Wednesday.

The man was arrested in Lows Creek yesterday, following an investigation by Nelspruit SAPS detectives and the Mpumalanga Provincial Task Team.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli says it was about 05:20 on Wednesday when the suspect, driving a white Isuzu bakkie, allegedly shot and killed the 36-year-old woman.

The incident, reported on by Lowvelder, took place in Samora Machel Drive, near Buscor’s bus terminals.

According to eyewitnesses, the woman was shot after she got out of a taxi. They claim the suspect drew his firearm and shot her in the right leg. She fell down, and the man allegedly shot her in the head twice before driving off in Valencia’s direction.

Witnesses phoned the police and paramedics. Emer-G-Med responded and declared the woman dead on the scene.

Mdhluli says the suspect was traced after the bakkie was recovered in Mara near KaNyamazane at about 12:00 on the day of the murder.

“The suspect is facing a murder charge. More charges could possibly be added against him as the investigation continues. This includes information that the woman was expecting at the time she was killed. The motive for the killing is still unknown,” says Mdhluli.

He is due to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Caxton Network News reported on Wednesday that this is the second alleged gender-based violence incident to occur this week.