Boyfriend, ‘sangoma’ held as woman’s mutilated, burnt body found
“It is alleged that at the time of her disappearance, the deceased went outside her house responding to a telephone call from the 39-year-old boyfriend.”
Two people linked to the murder of a 44-year-old woman who was reported missing over a week ago in Rietgat, were due to appear in the Soshanguve magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said the woman’s boyfriend and a “self-proclaimed sangoma” were arrested for the murder after her burnt and mutilated remains were discovered.
Peters said a relative of the deceased reported her missing on 3 October, and an immediate search was activated by the police.
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“It is alleged that she disappeared after she went outside her house to respond to a telephone call from the 39-year-old boyfriend. This was the last time she was seen.”
Peters said the preliminary investigation found that the boyfriend was the last person to possibly be in contact with the her, albeit telephonically.
“This led to the arrest of the suspect on Saturday.”
She said further investigations led police to Dubai informal settlement on Sunday, where the remains of the missing woman were found.
“The burnt body was mutilated with no hands and no feet.”
Peters said a second suspect “who was a self-proclaimed sangoma had since been arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder”.
“Investigations at this stage suggest that the motive for the killing may be muthi-related.”
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela commended the work of the investigators that resulted in the swift arrest of the suspects.
“This arrest should be the basis of an even greater task of building a watertight case through the gathering of sufficient evidence by the investigators, towards securing a successful conviction in court.
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“Our members must always be mindful of the SAPS commitment to prioritise the investigation of such horrific crimes committed against women, children and other vulnerable persons,” said Mawela.
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