LIMPOPO – Police in Marble Hall have made a major breakthrough following the arrest of three suspects involved in the disappearance of a 38-year-old woman this week.
A dedicated team of Saps members worked tirelessly around the clock since the mysterious disappearance of Rebecca Maleswena on 28 February 2019, from Moganyaka village outside Marble Hall, says police spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
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During ongoing operation and investigations in this matter, Suliman Makambira (39) was arrested in Meadowlands in the Gauteng Province and Lucky Mmaphafudi (30) and Selina Phiri (40) were both arrested in Marble Hall. Ngoepe says Phiri was the first to be arrested a few days after Maleswena’s disappearance and appeared before the Marble Hall Magistrate’s Court.
“She was denied bail and the case was postponed to 23 April 2019 for bail application and for further police investigations. The other two suspects also appeared before the Marble Hall Magistrate’s Court this week and they were denied bail until their next court appearance on 9 April 2019. These suspects are facing a charge of kidnapping,” he explained in a statement.
The arrests come after Maleswena, an employee at a surgery in Marble Hall, was reported missing on 28 February 2019 by her frightened family after she failed to return home.
“It is alleged that the victim received a phone call from an unknown woman who arranged to meet her at a restaurant next to the Marble Taxi rank. She boarded a taxi from her home and was never seen again. The matter was then reported to police who began investigations.”
Ngoepe says police followed information that her body might have been thrown into the crocodile infested Olivant River in Leewfontein and a Police Search and Rescue Team was immediately activated and the search operation ensued from the beginning of this week for several days, with no success.
“The three arrested suspects are positively linked to the disappearance of the victim but the motive behind this incident is not clear at this stage. The Police’s search operation for the missing woman and the investigations into the kidnapping charges are still underway,” Ngoepe concluded.
Anyone with information that can assist the police in finding the missing woman, may contact Captain Richard Boshomane at 079 894 5501; the crime stop number 0860010111; the crime line SMS 32211 or the nearest police station.
