TZANEEN – THE Ethiopian murder suspect who was sought by the Maake police for shooting and killing a fellow Ethiopian handed himself over to the police last week.
Tzaneen police spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said 28-year-old Thlana Benea, also reported to be known as Thalun Tasfoye, handed himself over after he saw his photo in a newspaper.
Benea appeared before the Naphuno Magistrate’s Court in Lenyenye outside Tzaneen on Friday.
He was denied bail and was due to appear before court again for a formal bail application on Thursday.
“The police thank the media and residents for their assistance in ensuring that this man handed himself over after he realised there was no place to hide,” Ngoepe said.
The shooting incident for which Benea was sought occurred next to the Lenyenye Clinic at around midnight on 31 December.
“It is understood that the two Ethiopian nationals had an argument during which Benea allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot the victim several times in the chest and head. The victim died at the scene.
“A special task force in collaboration with the department of home affairs was established to track down Benea.
“Because the man is a foreign national, we had to cooperate with home affairs as there was a possibility that he might skip the country to avoid prosecution in South Africa. We also regarded him as dangerous as he was in possession of a firearm,” Ngoepe said.
He said they could not disclose the name of the victim, who was 25 years old, as there were still diplomatic protocols to be followed between Pretoria and Addis Ababa as per Interpol’s communications legislation.
