Elderly Mpumalanga couple torched for alleged murder

The police have arrested an elderly couple aged between 75 and 80 on allegations of murdering their grandson.


The arrest of an elderly couple came after community members accosted them about the death of their 18-year-old grandson. According to the police reports, the deceased disappeared on January 19. He was discovered last week Thursday, reports Mpumalanga News.

“Subsequent to the interrogation, the community members took the law into their own hands by setting the couple alight with tyres. Police were summoned to the scene and they rescued the victims. [T]hey (police) unearthed that the act by the community was sparked by the discovery of the body of the young man on the bushes not far from their house, said Brigadier Leonard Hlathi.

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The elderly couple is currently in hospital under police guard, where they are recuperating.

Hlathi said a preliminary investigation suggested that the young man may have been poisoned. “Two cases have been opened for investigation, one for murder (against the couple) as well as two counts of attempted murder (against the mob),” he said.

Police are currently looking for the suspects responsible for setting the couple alight. Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation of these cases is urged to contact Detective Warrant Officer David Mathebula on 082 462 2416 or the SAPS Crime Stop number at 08600 10111.

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