LIMPOPO – A 24-year-old Ugandan man, who was arrested on two counts of murder, arson, theft of motor vehicle and theft general, has appeared before the Northam Magistrates Court on Monday, 7 Janurary 2019.
The man was arrested after two men were found dead in a burning building in Northam on Friday, 4 January.
His cases were postponed to 14 January 2019 for a formal bail application and for further police investigations to take place.
LIMPOPO – Spokesperson for the Limpopo Police, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, says on the said day the police were summoned to the scene and on arrival found the entire building already engulfed in flames. “The Police in conjunction with other role players, tried to extinguish the blaze but with no success. Further attempts were made to rescue the people inside until they managed to gain entry by breaking the windows as all the doors were locked and subsequently, two people were found lying dead on the floor,” Ngoepe explained.
Both deceased had sustained serious burn wounds throughout their bodies, he added.
“Preliminary Police investigations revealed who the possible suspect was and a joint manhunt operation ensued until a 24-year-old man was apprehended at Rustenburg in the North West Province. The provincial police with the help from the Rusternburg Public Order Police Unit, recovered the deceased’s motor vehicle at a chop-shop in the Rusternburg Policing area together with and items belonging to the deceased were found in the possession of the suspect.”
The process of identifying both the deceased (aged 30 and 33) is still underway but they were confirmed to be Ugandian Nationals.
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The motive behind this incident is still not clear at this stage but the ongoing Police investigations will tell.
The arrested suspect in this matter, who is also Ugandian National, will appear before the Northam Magistrate Court on Monday, 7 January on counts of arson, theft of motor vehicle and theft general and on two counts of murder.
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The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has complimented the SAPS members in the Northam Police Station and the Rustenburg Public Order Police Unit for making such a milestone achievement in cracking such a complex matter within a short space of time.
The Police investigations are still continuing, Ngoepe concluded.
