The father of Skeem Saam actress Amanda Manku, who plays Lizzy Thobakgale, will remain behind bars after being charged with her mother and grandmother's murders. The man who is a police captain, his police girlfriend and a hitman were arrested on Monday for the murder. Amanda Manku's grandmother and mother were murdered in May 2021 and the police only made a breakthrough almost three years after the murders. The suspects appeared before Lebowakgomo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The suspects who are also police officers and lovers William Manku (53) and Nonhlanhla Ngubo (42) and a suspected hitman who is a Mozambican citizen David Khoza (40) were arrested in Mpumalanga and Gauteng respectively. Khoza was arrested at Lebombo Port of Entry when he was trying to flee the country. Limpopo police spokesperson Hlulani Mashaba confirmed that the suspects were charged with the murders. Manku is a police captain stationed at the Sandringham Police Station while his girlfriend Ngubo is a police sergeant at the Linden Police Station.

"Three suspects arrested in connection with two counts of murder that took place at Makgophong village ,under Magatle policing area on 04 May 2021, appeared before Lebowakgomo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The suspects are facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, attempted murder, two counts of murder and defeating the ends of justice," Mashaba said, adding that the suspects were nabbed by the members of the Limpopo Murder and Robbery, Provincial Tracking Team and Benoni Flying Squad.

On the day of the incident, the 70-year-old mother and her 45-year-old daughter were shot dead by unknown suspects while fetching water at a local tap. At the time, Amanda's grandmother was also in company of her son who was injured during the shooting incident and survived. "After the murders, the police started with the investigations that identified the suspects and subsequent arrests were effected. Mashaba further said that the firearms confiscated during the arrests will be subjected to a ballistic test. The motor vehicle which was used to commit the crimes and a phone belonging to Amanda's mother were also seized.

Mashaba said that, "The motive of the incident at this stage is unknown and police investigations are underway." The suspects were remanded in police custody and the matter was postponed to next Thursday, 18 January 2024, for bail application and further police investigations.

The vehicle that was used during the crime has been seized by the police