NELSPRUIT – Sam Mhlanga (28), an undocumented foreign national, who claim to be from Zimbabwe,  allegedly hacked four people, two succumbed to injuries, one being his uncle whilst two others sustained some injuries, appeared before the Kwamhlanga Magistrate’s Court today, 08 Noveber 2022 on two counts of murder and two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The matter was postponed to 10 November 2022 pending availability of an interpreter and the suspect remained in custody.

On Monday, 07 November 2022, he made his appearance at the Tweefontein Magistrate’s Court after being arrested on Sunday, 06 November 2022 for alleged contravention of the Immigration Act and the matter was postponed to 15 November 2022. He was remanded in custody on Monday hence his appearance today.

According to the information at police disposal, the alleged assailant visited his uncle on Monday, 31 October 2022 at his residence at Mountainview in Kwamhlanga and an argument is said to have ensued. It is further alleged that the suspect started hacking his 60-year-old uncle with an axe. It also came to the attention of the police that after the gruesome murder, the suspect proceeded to a different section in Mountainview where he allegedly attacked a local woman with an axe and she unfortunately succumbed to the injuries later in hospital. 

The suspect further attacked another female who was carrying a baby on her back. During that attack, the child too sustained some injuries. The matter was reported to the police and an investigation into the two counts of murder as well as two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm commenced then he was cornered by the police in Tweefontein.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela commended the swift arrest of the suspect which served the day to prevent further damage caused by the suspect’s actions.

Source: South African Police Service