NELSPRUIT - Four suspects appeared in the Mkhuhlu Magistrate's Court today, Tuesday 12 July 2022 on charges of kidnapping and murder. Their appearance follows the one on Thursday, 07 July 2022 where they only appeared for kidnapping. The suspects were arrested after Mr Skhumbuzo Intelligent Sikhumbane, aged 24 went missing and was reported to the police by his family at Calcutta on Saturday, 02 July 2022.

According to the information the family indicated that they received a call from some people known to them, alluding that Sikhumbane was accused of theft of a laptop. Subsequent to that call he disappeared without a trace.

Through investigation, it was revealed that he was kidnapped. A case was then opened to that effect and the four suspects were later apprehended and charged with kidnapping. In the tour of the probe, police worked hand in hand with the family of the victim as well as the community of Mkhuhlu near BushbuckRidge. This led to the discovery of Sikhumbane's lifeless body in the Sabie river on Saturday, 09 July 2022.

Mr Sikhumbane was certified dead and a murder charge was added against the suspects.

The suspects are Prayer Mdluli (29), Christ Zwane (30), Kriel Khoza (24) and Evidence Nkuna (36). During their court appearance, the matter was postponed to Monday, 18 July 2022 for a formal bail application meanwhile they remained in custody.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has appreciated the swift arrest of the suspects and also commended the positive response by the public in assisting police in the way they did. "We also urge the public to make use of the structures within the criminal justice system whenever they feel someone has offended them or committed crime against them rather than taking the law into their own hands as it will land them behind bars said the General.

Source: South African Police Service