POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has hailed the apprehension of two suspects aged 28 and 47 in connection with the murder of a 36-year-old woman who was reported missing last week on 09 September 2022 in Burgersfort policing precinct.
The deceased, Conny Sekhukhune, a Financial Clerk at Ga-Kgoshigadi Malepe Tribal office was residing at Ga-Mashishi village when she went missing while at Burgersfort Central Business District (CBD). The family reported the matter to the police and a missing person case was immediately opened. This comes after the family suspected that the boyfriend might have been involved in her disappearance because there was a protection order issued against him before the couple separated for a period of six months.
The police conducted a search for the victim at the boyfriend’s house but she was not found and subsequently discovered some blood stains on the floor of the kitchen. The Provincial Forensic Crime Scene Management unit were summoned at the scene to conduct forensic analysis and investigations.
On Wednesday, 14 September 2022 at approximately 13:00, police received a complaint from a member of the community about a lifeless body of a woman which was found dumped in the bushes along R555 public road next to Thaba Moshate Hotel.
A joint search operation was conducted by the Burgersfort Detectives, Provincial Detective Task Team, Burgersfort and Tzaneen K9 Units and managed to recover the body in a decomposed stage. The deceased was positively identified by a family member at the scene.
Police immediately commenced with the investigations which led to an arrest of the driver of a maxi-taxi who transported the deceased from her boyfriend’s house.
A manhunt for the boyfriend continued and he was ultimately traced and arrested with visible injuries sustained after he was severely assaulted by unknown individuals.
A 28-year-old maxi taxi driver is expected to appear before Burgersfort Magistrate’s Court today facing charges of murder whilst a 47-year-old boyfriend will appear once being discharged in hospital under police guard.
“This is one of the horrendous incidents of gender-based violen in which a young woman lost her life at the hands of a heartless man. It is a sad moment for the family and the recovery of the body will bring some closure. I would like to commend the team that was involved in the search operation and also thank members of the community by providing valuable information that led to the recovery of the missing woman”. Concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.
Police investigations are continuing.
Source: South African Police Service