The 35-year-old, Tlhoriso Godfrey Mofokeng appeared briefly in Bethlehem Magistrate court on Monday, 11 October 2021 facing charges of murder, rape and defeating ends of justice after the body of 24-year-old woman from Matwabeng near Senekal was found dumped near Liebenbergsvlei River outside Bethlehem. The have been postponed to 20 October 2021 for formal bail application whilst he remains in custody.
The suspect was arrested on 07 October 2021 in Bohlokong near Bethlehem by Bethlehem police after thorough investigation was conducted which led to arrest of the suspect in Bohlokong.
The 24-year-old woman from Matwabeng near Senekal was last seen on 22 September 2021 by family when she left home to Bethlehem for her identity document. According to family she was phoned many times but couldn’t get hold of her.
It is alleged that on 26 September 2021 at about 06:30 community member was passing at an open field when he saw the body of the female person lying on her back being naked and next to her body was her clothes, a blue pair of jean and underwear, a black men’s s waist belt without buckle which was later found underneath the body of the deceased when it was lifted.
She sustained an open wound on the left side of the head. Her face was swollen and started decomposing.
A post-mortem was conducted which reveals that she was raped and murdered. Therefore, police were investigating case of rape and murder.
Source: South African Police Service
