Police from eMbalenhle in Mpumalanga are now linking the investigation of an old murder to their double murder case against eMbalenhe resident Leloko Mapitsi.

Mapitsi was arrested after police discovered the bodies of a woman and a man – on different days in February – in his room in eMbalenhle Ext 11.

Phumzile Makoena’s body was found in his bed after Mapitsi’s mother, Maleloko, alerted the police of a foul odour and flies coming from her son’s room. She called the police when she could not access the room.

Her son had locked the door and taken the key with him when he was arrested two days before and was still in police custody at the time of the initial discovery.

Mapitsi initially appeared in court on February 16 for domestic violence against his mother after he allegedly violated a restraining order.

Two days after discovering Makoena’s body, police returned to his room on February 18, and to their shock discovered another body – that of Doctor Mofokeng – also under the bed. Mapitsi in February twice appeared before the Evander Magistrate’s Court on the murder charges.

According to Constable Busi Mthethwa of the eMbalenhle police, the investigating officer has worked tirelessly to get a third murder case incorporated.

“This murder, including a contravention of a protection order, was committed in Bloemfontein in 2013.”

Mthethwa said the cases will be combined when Mapitsi re-appears in the Evander Magistrate’s Court next week Tuesday.