Suspect in brutal murder of Soshanguve siblings arrested
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo says the suspect was taken into custody after being wounded during a hijacking attempt. He was taken to hospital and was only discharged this week.
After close to eight months following the murder of a four-year-old and seven-year-old, police have finally apprehended a suspect, following his release from hospital this week.
Since the heinous crime, the community of Soshanguve continues to grapple with the brutal murder of siblings Tinyiko (7) and Mpfumo (4) Mashaba, who were tragically killed in their shack at the Changing Spot informal settlement in June last year.
The suspect, who had been on the run since the incident, was wounded during an attempted hijacking in Cullinan last month.
According to police, the suspect was taken to hospital on February 7 and only discharged this week.
He now remains in police custody.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said the suspect was taken into custody after being wounded during an attempted hijacking.
“He was under police guard in hospital, where it was discovered that he was wanted for the murder of the siblings,” said Masondo.
The Mashaba children, Tinyiko and Mpfumo, tragically burned to death when the suspect set their shack on fire on June 2, last year.
Tinyiko, who was a Grade 2 learner at Lesedi Primary School in Soshanguve, and her younger sister Mpfumo were unable to escape the blaze.
Masondo said the armed suspect had earlier arrived at a shebeen in the area, firing shots before proceeding to the Mashaba family’s shack, where the gruesome attack occurred.
After months of searching, the suspect will now face charges of murder.
“The suspect has been discharged from the hospital and will be taken to court soon to face charges related to the murder of the Mashaba children.”
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