A murder and rape suspect who was arrested in Malukazi near Isipingo, KZN, on Saturday, is due to appear in court soon.

The 25-year-old man is alleged to have worked with an accomplice to rape, rob, and murder a 17-year-old girl at her home in Umlazi on May 28. The girl, Aphiwe Ngcobo, was home alone and had not gone to school as she was not feeling well.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker says another man, who is alleged to be an accomplice, was arrested the next day by detectives from the provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Clermont.

Naicker says it is alleged that on the day of the incident, a resident, Mondli Ngcobo, received a call from his neighbour informing him that they saw an unknown person wearing a balaclava leaving his home with a TV set.

“Ngcobo, who was at work, asked the neighbour to investigate as his daughter was in the house. The neighbour went to the house and discovered the body of the daughter with her hands tied behind her back and with multiple stab wounds.

“Police were summoned to the house. As they processed the scene, they discovered that the deceased was also raped. A case docket of murder, rape and robbery was registered and later handed over to the provincial Serial Electronic Crime Investigation Unit for investigation,” says Naicker.

When the suspect was arrested, the deceased’s cellphone was found in his possession.

Both men are due to appear in court soon.