KIMBERLEY – A 29-year-old man accused of murder was discovered hiding under a bed in Gauteng, ending a manhunt that began when a woman’s body was unearthed from a shallow grave in Kimberley.
The suspect had been evading authorities since the discovery of the 31-year-old woman’s body, which was found buried inside a shack in Lerato Park in Roodepan, Kimberley. His arrest on Wednesday 14 October in Ivory Park, Gauteng, came after an intelligence-driven operation involving law enforcement officials from both Gauteng and the Northern Cape.
Multi-agency operation leads to arrest
Investigations revealed that the suspect was allegedly hiding in Ivory Park, prompting a coordinated response from multiple law enforcement divisions. Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, police spokesperson, said the intelligence was operationalised by a multi-disciplinary team comprising members of the Ivory Park Task Team, Ivory Park Visible Policing, Alexandra Crime Intelligence, Roodepan Detectives and private security.
The team executed a tactical operation at the identified premises in Ivory Park, where the suspect was found hiding under a bed. He was arrested on a charge of murder and is expected to appear in court.
Grim discovery followed missing person report
The body of the 31-year-old woman was found buried in a shallow grave inside a shack in Lerato Park, Roodepan, on Wednesday 30 September at approximately 16:30. It is alleged that the deceased was last seen in July this year.
After becoming concerned about her whereabouts, a family member reported her missing to the police in Roodepan on 26 September. A missing person enquiry was subsequently registered, and an investigation was initiated.
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On 29 September the family member reportedly returned to the shack but found the dwelling locked. The following day, she returned with a community member and gained access to the premises. They noticed that the ground was loose and subsequently discovered the shallow grave.
The Northern Cape Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, commended the team for the arrest and praised the effective collaboration between law enforcement agencies in Gauteng and the Northern Cape.
He emphasised that harbouring wanted suspects will not be tolerated and that law enforcement agencies will continue to work together to trace and apprehend those who evade justice.
