Two men appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court today on charges of robbery, kidnapping and murder, following the murders of a 56-year-old woman and her 31-year-old son in two separate incidents earlier this year.

Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says Magdeline Motlanthe was last seen at her home in Ivy Park, Polokwane, on January 9. Her body was later found in a shallow grave along the Roedtan-Zebediela road.

According to Ledwaba, the discovery of her body was linked to another case, that of a man whose body was found in a shallow grave in Apel in the Sekhukhune district a week earlier. It was determined that he was Motlanthe’s son, says Ledwaba.

Police have confirmed that a family relative, a 32-year-old man, was arrested last Saturday in Ga-Choene village, following an intensive investigation.

A second suspect, a foreign national, was arrested in Polokwane the same day. He was found in possession of the deceased’s cellphone.

An additional two suspects have also been arrested.

The case was adjourned for further investigation and the suspects will remain in custody.