The body of 31-year-old Refiloe Malope was recovered on June 27 from the depth of a mine shaft in Benoni following her disappearance in Limpopo on May 9.
It is alleged that the victim was forcefully shoved by two men into the boot of a sedan at Kgaphamadi Village.
A police sergeant from the Benoni SAPS and his 39-year-old accomplice have since been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Malope.
Their arrests come after the police followed up on information that the suspects might have murdered the woman and dumped her body into a discontinued ventilation mine shaft in Benoni.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the retrieval required specialised equipment had to be sourced after the search was halted on June 24 when the body was spotted through the use of a special camera at the bottom of the shaft.
During the recovery of Malope’s body, another unidentified body was also retrieved from the same mine shaft.
Investigations are continuing to determine the identity and the cause of death.
“The operation comprised of Gauteng Search and Rescue Units of SAPS from Benoni, Tshwane, Sedibeng, Westrand K9, Tshwane K9, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane municipality disaster teams, the Limpopo Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Provincial Crime Scene Investigation and Hlogotlou detectives,” said Mojapelo.
The provincial commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said: “Our search efforts led us to Gauteng province and we hope that the recovery of Malope’s remains will bring closure to the family as much as it strengthens our case against the accused.”
Hadebe has thanked all the teams that were involved in the retrieval of Malope’s body for their cooperation, especially the Gauteng Search and Rescue Units that was coordinated by the provincial head of rapid response services, Brigadier Samuel Killian.
Both suspects are facing charges of kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice. They will appear again before the Nebo Magistrate’s Court on June 30 for a formal bail application.
Also Read: Benoni SAPS officer arrested for alleged kidnapping of Limpopo woman
Also Read: Man (47) arrested for impersonating a police officer at the SAPS Vehicle Pound
