Ivory Park Police Station detectives arrested a man who allegedly murdered his wife in a domestic violence-related shooting in Ebony Park last year.
According to the spokesperson for the station, Captain Bernard Matimulane, the suspect, who is an army veteran, was arrested at the Pretoria Central Magistrates’ Court on 22 October, after a search which spanned 16 months. “The suspect was appearing in court for alleged possession of an unlicensed firearm. So far it is not clear if the firearm which the 43-year-old suspect was arrested for is related to the one that was used in the murder.
“At the time of the murder, it was reported that the suspect was estranged from his wife and that the two were going through a divorce. The suspect fled the scene immediately after the murder and police [have been] looking for him since then.”
Matimulane added that the station commander, Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo, made it clear to the detectives and commanders assigned to the case that they should not rest until the suspect had been found and brought to justice to account for the allegation levelled against him.
Ngcobo said the arrest was a culmination of their efforts aimed at ensuring that perpetrators of crimes in general, and domestic violence-related ones in particular, should account for their actions.
“However long it takes, we are prepared to do all that is legally possible to ensure that those that commit crime, serve time. I urge any person in a relationship to guard against any sign of abuse as it has been shown time and again that spousal murders are preceded by other forms of abuse before they culminate into murders,” Ngcobo added.
“Some of the ways in which abuse is shown in a relationship may be in the form of stalking, controlling behaviour, unauthorised entry into the victim’s residence without their consent, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, and damage to property and all forms of intimidation.”
Ngcobo concluded that as soon as these signs are seen in a relationship, the victim should start looking for help and letting all of their loved ones know about the situation. “Let us all shine the spotlight on domestic violence in our homes and neighbourhoods.”
The suspect was expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrates’ Court on 31 October to face a charge of murder.
Details: Captain Bernard Matimulane 079 498 6336.
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