Umhlali detectives made five breakthrough arrests last week in connection with a murder that took place in July.
Lieutenant Colonel Jacky Papaya, the Detective Commander, was beaming about the “sterling” work her detectives had done.
On Monday, August 19, Mazwi Ntongole (25), Smakhele Fody (20), Thandisiwe Mafunwa (20), Thabo Mgidi (27) and Thembinkosi Mkhize (49) were arrested and appeared in court last Tuesday, August 20. The men were back in court on Monday, August 26.
They are accused of murdering a 38-year-old woman and attempting to murder her daughter on July 13. The two women were walking to the Compensation train station that morning as the daughter was returning to school in the Eastern Cape.
Five men armed with knives and a firearm approached the women near the station. They stole R1000 and a cell phone before stabbing the women. Both were taken to hospital, where the mother died from her wounds. The daughter is recovered and will testify in court.
Detectives were able to trace the suspects after they tracked a stolen cellphone to a man who had bought it from the thieves.
Umhlali SAPS are urging people to cooperate with them so that they can further clamp down on crime.
