Man arrested for kidnapping girl (16) now charged with her murder

3 February

LIMPOPO – Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe said the man appeared in the Giyani Magistrate’s Court today.

“He was denied bail and his case was postponed to 31 March for further police investigations,” Ngoepe added.

9 January 16:30

LIMPOPO – A 21-year-old man, who was initially arrested for kidnapping a 16-year-old girl, has now been charged with her murder. This, after the body of the teenager from Mavalani village, was discovered in the Nsami river on Tuesday, 29 December 2020, said Police Spokesperson, Brig Motllafela Mojapelo.

He explained that the child was reported missing earlier the same day. Preliminary police investigations revealed that the deceased, identified as Matimu Xolani Timbane, was last seen in the company of the suspect at a local tavern on 25 December 2020 under circumstances which bordered on kidnapping.

“A search operation for both the suspect and the 16-year-old girl commenced. The suspect was then traced by the police and arrested in Johannesburg on 5 January. He appeared in Giyani Magistrate’s Court on Friday on a charge of kidnapping and the case was remanded to 13 January for further police investigations.” He added that since the family positively identified the deceased, the accused will now face an additional charge of murder. “

Investigations into how the victim was murdered are still unfolding, Mojapelo said.

Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba has commended the investigating team for arresting the suspect. “This arrest attests to our resolve as members of the SAPS that there will be no limits when hunting down perpetrators of heinous crimes such as this. I must however urge our communities, especially parents and guardians to speedily report missing persons to the police and not wait for some days before doing so,” concluded Ledwaba.

Mojapelo added that the suspect could face additional charges as police investigations continue.