Nelspruit: The police at Kwaggafontein has finally managed to arrest a 29-year-old man in connection with two cases of murder as well as two cases of rape. The male suspect has appeared at the Mkobola Magistrates’ Court today, Monday 29 August 2022.

His court appearance follows his arrest by the police from Kwaggafontein on 17 August 2022. The man is suspected to have been behind the rape and murder of Miss Paulina Sangweni (19) whose lifeless body was found on 30 March 2020 around 03:55 near a school in Kwaggafontein. He is further suspected to have been involved in the rape and murder of Miss Zanele Mnguni (28) whose lifeless body was also found near a school in Kwaggafontein on 12 December 2021. After the two cases were opened, a team of experts was established to investigate.

The investigators worked tirelessly and collected evidence which led them to their suspect. After exhausting their resources in an effort to make a breakthrough in the cases, on the said day, 17 August 2022, they cornered Joseph Thabang Selepe at his residential place in Kwaggafontein A. He made his first court appearance at the said court on 18 August 2022.

Selepe is facing two counts of rape as well as two counts of murder and during his second court appearance today, the matter was postponed to 01 September 2022 for a formal bail application meanwhile the suspect remained in custody.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has welcomed the developments made in the cases. "We will use whatever we have when it comes to the fight against crime, especially crime against the vulnerable groups including women and children. We will continue to arrest the perpetrators and we are glad that the man was arrested during women's month. His arrest symbolises commitment by the SAPS in the fight against the scourge of women killing in our province" said the General.

Source: South African Police Service