The police had their hands full this weekend as more than 20 people were killed in violent crimes. In Limpopo, SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe expressed great concern regarding the recent escalation of murders within the province.
TRAGEDIES IN LIMPOPO
The province reported over five murder incidents that took place over the long weekend. In one of the incidents, a teenage girl (19) from Giyani allegedly stabbed her 27-year-old brother after they argued. "The suspect went to the police station to report the matter. Police rushed to the vicinity and upon arrival, found the lifeless body of a 27-year-old brother on the ground, in a pool of blood. The deceased sustained stab wounds on the upper body and was covered with a blanket. SAPS spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the teen will be appearing in court soon.
In another incident, a 54-year-old man allegedly shot and killed his wife aged 45 during a church service sermon at Makonde Shadani village on Saturday evening. He handed himself over to the police and he will appear in court this morning.
In a separate incident, a 28-year-old woman was fatally stabbed by her alleged ex-boyfriend near her home reportedly returning from a local tavern around 1am.
In Bolobedu, a woman stabbed and killed her boyfriend after an argument. She was arrested and will appear in court today. The Provincial Commissioner said they will work tirelessly to restore peace and order in the province. "The recent upsurge in murders is deeply disconcerting and entirely unacceptable. We are committed to tirelessly working towards reinstating peace and tranquility within our communities," emphasised Lieutenant General Hadebe.
MURDER MAYHEM IN GQEBERHA
In Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, the anti-gang unit is investigating a case of murder and attempted murder after a woman, aged 23 and a girl, aged 16, were shot on Saturday in Kamesh. It is alleged that at approximately 21:10, the women were found lying with multiple gunshot wounds in Pelican Street, Rosedale. The woman died on the scene while a 16-year-old girl was taken to hospital for treatment. The deceased was identified as 23-year-old Keziah Kleinbooi. Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg said the motive is suspected to be gang-related, and the suspects are unknown.
In another incident also in Kamesh, a father was arrested for the fatal stabbing of his 18-year-old son. Janse Van Rensburg said the police attended to a complaint of a murder at the provincial hospital on Sunday afternoon. "On arrival, police were informed that at approximately 7am on Sunday, the 18-year-old boy was admitted in hospital with a stab wound to the back and succumbed to his injuries. The 50-year-old father handed himself over to the police and he was charged with murder," Janse Van Rensburg said. The motive of the killing is unknown.
Meanwhile, in Malabar also in Gqeberha, Gelvandale detectives arrested an alleged murder suspect within hours after a man was fatally stabbed on Monday. It is alleged that at approximately 03:45, police responded to a complaint of Cannan Jacobs (35) who was stabbed multiple times on the right side of his chest and abdomen. He succumbed to his injuries.
GBV
Police arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with the murder of his 25-year-old girlfriend on Sunday, 31 March 2024. It is alleged that the suspect, the victim and their friends were sitting together at their friend's place at Brakspruit, outside Klerksdorp, when a fight ensued. The victim allegedly assaulted the boyfriend and the latter retaliated by beating her with fists until she fell. An ambulance and the police were called, and the victim was declared dead on the scene. North West Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, urged members of the community to resolve their differences amicably to avoid violent situations like this one.
In KwaZulu Natal, the police arrested a man in connection with the murder of three people and the attempted murder of another in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. It is alleged that the man had gone to a club with his girlfriend who later told him she was leaving with the three deceased. According to witnesses, this angered the man who decided to go home and later came back with a gun and fatally shot the three men and injured another patron.
BLOODY WEEKEND IN CAPE TOWN
In the Western Cape, the police are still on the manhunt for suspects after six people were found murdered in different parts of the city. On Sunday, a 25-year-old man was killed on Veld Road in Belgravia while trying to stop a fight. One of the people who were fighting approached him while the other shot him. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the victim died on the scene and that the suspects fled the scene. Twigg said on Friday, Kleinvlei police attended a murder scene on Keerom Street where two men, were killed and another man was wounded. The victims aged 27 were found with gunshot wounds and were declared deceased on the scene. Kleinvlei police were investigating two counts of murder and one of attempted murder. In another incident on Saturday, a man was hacked to death with a panga on in Brackenfell. In Milnerton, a man was hacked to death on Saturday. The police say the motive for the killing is unknown and the suspects are yet to be arrested. Twigg said the motive for that incident was also not yet known. In another murder incident, the police were called to a murder scene where a man was found with stab wounds to his head. Meanwhile in Bishop Lavis, a 23-year-old man was shot dead on Soetkop Street in Kalksteenfontein. The motive for all murders is yet to be established and no one has been arrested.
Additional reporting by Philani Mzila
