Police spokesperson Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng said the suspect was arrested on the street in Pietermaritzberg on 19 August after the police were alerted by local residents. It is unclear how or when he attempted suicide, but Mofokeng confirmed that tests found illegal substances in the suspect’s blood stream.

The suspect was unable to appear in court on 20 August and senior public prosecutor at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court Yusuf Baba said the suspect (42) attempted to commit suicide and is currently in hospital receiving treatment. He added the court will issue a warrant for the suspect to remain in custody until he is fit to stand trial. The new court date at the moment stands at 28 August.

Mofokeng said that the suspect was arrested by police on 19 August in Pietermaritzburg in Kwa-Zulu Natal, following the murder of a woman, identified by the police as Shareen Pillay, and believed to be the suspect’s wife. He added, “The suspect was on the run following the murder of a woman on Saturday [16 August] afternoon on the corner of Peter Place and Karen Street in Bryanston.”

The woman was found inside a Bryanston office complex. A security guard at the complex said the suspect worked in the complex and alleged the suspect killed the woman inside the office building before leaving her body outside. This is however unconfirmed by police.

Pillay had about 50 stab-wounds on her body. A motorist saw her body and alerted the paramedics to the incident on 16 August. ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaark said Pillay was barely responsive when paramedics arrived at the scene. He said she later died at Mediclinic Sandton after substantial blood loss.

Read more on how this story unfolded,

Husband in hospital after stabbing wife 50 times