A 30-year-old man was found dead in the holding cells at Umhlali Police Station on Tuesday morning.

Umhlali police spokesperson Sergeant Makhosi Khumalo said the man had recently been arrested after allegedly being found in possession of drugs.

“It is alleged that the man died due to a medical condition,” said Khumalo.

An inquest docket has been opened to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.

Stabbing

In a separate incident, KwaDukuza police arrested a 41-year-old man less than 24 hours after a fatal stabbing in Ntshawini.

According to iLembe police spokesperson Priya Nunkumar, the suspect allegedly became involved in an altercation with a 35-year-old man before fatally stabbing him in the chest on Sunday.
The victim was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police launched an investigation and, with the assistance of witness information, traced and arrested the suspect on Monday. He has been charged with murder and is expected to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court.

Rape and kidnapping

In another incident, police arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with the alleged rape and kidnapping of a 12-year-old girl in Ntshawini.

Police said the girl disappeared on Sunday, prompting her mother and community members to search for her. She was found the following morning wearing blood-stained clothing.

Nunkumar said the child alleged that the man had called her to his home under the pretext of returning money before forcing her inside and raping her.

Police further allege that the girl was kept at the house overnight before being allowed to leave the following morning.

She was taken to hospital for medical treatment, and a case of rape and kidnapping was opened at KwaDukuza Saps.

Following an investigation by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, the suspect was arrested in Ntshawini. He has been charged with rape and kidnapping and is expected to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court.

Illegal firearms

Meanwhile, Maphumulo police arrested a 22-year-old man after he was allegedly found in possession of two homemade firearms in Nothweni on Friday.

The modified firearms, which had no serial numbers, were seized and will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether they were used in other crimes.

The suspect has been charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and is expected to appear in the Maphumulo Magistrate’s Court.