A suspect linked to the brutal murder of two siblings aged four and seven years in Soshanguve, outside Tshwane, last week has been arrested. The two girls, Tinyiko and Mpfumo Mashaba died when the shack they were in was set alight by gunmen, who were allegedly after their father. The suspects also shot six other people at a shebeen in the same area, killing two.

SWIFT ARREST

The incident happened on the 2nd of June and the suspect was arrested in Akasia on Sunday, and the police also recovered a vehicle that was allegedly used during the commission of crime. SAPS spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said more suspects might be arrested pending further investigation. "The arrested suspect is expected to appear before Pretoria North Magistrate's Court today facing four counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder," said Masondo.

DIED FOR THEIR FATHER'S SINS

The mother of the two girls Itumeleng Mashaba detailed the horrific event that led to the death of her kids and said that she and their girls' father were on their way back to their shack when they heard someone opening their gate. Mashaba said she went and stood behind their shack and heard a conversation between her daughter and the perpetrator. "He asked the kids where we were and my eldest child responded that I was not around but would return soon. He told them they were going to die because their father loves money. I then heard gunshots," said Mashaba. She said she believes her opening the gate alerted the perpetrator that they were outside because he came towards her. "I ran and he chased after me, he managed to catch me but I slipped away and he said it would not end well. I was about four streets away from my home when I saw smoke from our shack and I knew my kids were gone. Their father also managed to escape. I think he was shocked because he had heard his friend was shot earlier by the same guys who killed our children," Mashaba said.

The search for other suspects is continuing.