Two in Brits court for kidnap, murder of 60-year-old man

Two men were arrested in connection with the murder and kidnapping of a 60-year-old man in Mmakau, east of Brits, North West police said on Wednesday.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Pelonomi Makau said the swift reaction from the Brits Cluster Trio Task Team, which was investigating the kidnap and murder, led to the arrests.

She said the police probe showed that men aged 22 and 35 entered a funeral parlour in Mmakau on July 8, at 23:00, and allegedly kidnapped a 60-year-old man. They put him inside one of the funeral parlour vehicles and drove away with him. The matter was reported to the police.

“Upon further investigation and searching for the kidnapped man, his burnt body was found in the bushes at Somaphepha village near Middleburg, in Mpumalanga province, on July 9. The funeral parlour’s vehicle was also recovered,” said Makau.

She said the pair were arrested the same day and were expected to appear in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday facing charges of business robbery, kidnapping and murder.