{"id":47839,"date":"2023-02-27T10:48:33","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T08:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/police-arrest-four-suspects-in-connection-with-recent-thantseka-murders-20230227\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T00:23:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T22:23:07","slug":"police-arrest-four-suspects-in-connection-with-recent-thantseka-murders-20230227","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/mthathaexpress\/police-arrest-four-suspects-in-connection-with-recent-thantseka-murders-20230227\/","title":{"rendered":"Police arrest four suspects in connection with recent Thantseka murders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The serious and violent crimes and tracking team of the South African Police Service has arrested four suspects in connection with the murder of three people in Thantseka Locality, outside Mthatha on February 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The victims, an elderly woman (62), her daughter (44) and her 13-year-old grandson <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/news24\/community-newspaper\/mthathaexpress\/ten-people-killed-within-bityi-policing-precinct-in-one-night-20230202\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>were shot and killed by unknown gunmen<\/strong><\/a> who entered their homestead around 20:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, said the arrest of the four men was effected between February 14 and 23.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOn Tuesday, February 14 at about 13:00 the serious and violent crimes and tracking team received information which led to the arrest of the alleged 26-year-old male suspect at Mabeleni Locality in Mthatha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOn Sunday, February 19, the investigation led the team to the arrest of a 37-year-old suspect at Phingilili Locality in Mthatha; and on February 23, the detectives together with crime intelligence followed up on information, which led them to Rustenburg to trace the two outstanding suspects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSubsequently, at about 23:00 the information yielded positive results as it led the team to the arrest of two male suspects, both aged 38, at Seraleng Location in Rustenburg,\u201d said Kinana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Kinana, two 9mm pistol firearms, live ammunition and magazines were confiscated during the police investigation. Police also recovered a vehicle believed to have been used in the commission of the offence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two suspects, Ntlangiso Aphelele Dumo (26) and Chwayitile Mthetheleli (Mtheza, 37) who were arrested in Mthatha were brought before court on February 23 on murder charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The case was remanded to March 23, 2023 for a formal bail hearing and they remain in police custody.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The latest two suspects who were arrested are expected to appear before the Bityi Magistrate\u2019s Court today, February 27 on charges of murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eastern Cape police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene has hailed the work of the detectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDuring my visit to the affected families, I made a firm commitment that my police officers are not going to sleep until the culprits are found. I am on record as having made it clear that the process of investigation seems longer, but it guarantees positive outcomes such as the breakthrough we have made in Bityi. Now we must allow those who murdered innocent people to face justice in the courts of law,\u201d said Mene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-issued-by-saps\"><strong>ISSUED BY SAPS<\/strong><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The serious and violent crimes and tracking team of the South African Police Service has arrested four suspects in connection with the murder of three people in Thantseka Locality, outside Mthatha, on February 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