Bodies thought to be Zama Zamas found on Putfontein Street

Gauteng Police are investigating a double murder docket after two bodies were found at Putfontein Street, in Albert Luthuli, Daveyton, on the morning of 17 December 2022.  The two bodies had stab wounds and were initially thought to be the bodies of Zama Zamas.

Police said they could not confirm if the deceased were illegal miners as yet and are appealing to the community to assist them to identify the two bodies as they are unknown.

Those with information can contact the police at 08600 10111.

Spear found at crime scene

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Harrismith police arrested the alleged murder suspect at his place of residence after a deceased man was found outside his home, according to police reports, a spear and bloody clothes were seized from the crime scene.

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Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring, told that it was on 16 December 2022 at about 9:20pm, the police received a complaint about people fighting on Warden Street in Harrismith.

“It was established that the victim fought with a group of people and in the process, one of the assailants stabbed him with a sharp object and fell on the ground. He sustained some fatal wounds on both his chest and stomach and was declared dead upon receiving attention from Emergency Medical Service. The deceased was identified by friends but not yet his family,” Mophiring said.

More arrests imminent

The provincial task team and local police were thereafter deployed to assist with tracing the suspect. Police visited the given residential address for the suspect, which they immediately proceeded to. There, they found the 26-year-old man with blood-stained clothes. He was immediately apprehended as police proceeded to search the premises. Upon doing so, they retrieved the suspected murder weapon – which was a spear.  The suspect was arrested and detained.

Mophiring said that police were still working to trace the remaining suspects.

He will be charged and expected to appear before the Harrismith Magistrate court on Monday, 19 December 2022 facing a charge of murder.

Compiled by Devina Haripersad