POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe is elated by the arrest of a 41-year-old suspect on Tuesday in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a 23-year-old man who was reported missing from his village of Mafefe under Malipsdrift policing area in July last year. This after the remains of the victim were found cemented in the pipe next to the local river yesterday on Wednesday 17 January 2023.

On Saturday, 30 July 2022 at about 18:00, the victim Kwena Mokoka disappeared mysteriously after he went outside the house to answer a phone call. He didn’t return and family members searched for him and even called his phone but it was off. The matter was reported to the Police and search operations never yielded any positive results.

SAPS Task Team responsible for investigating missing persons and occult cases throughout the Limpopo Province took over the investigations and made a breakthrough in arresting the suspect.

After months of searching, the investigating team was able to positively link the suspect with the incident. As the investigation continued, the deceased’s remains were located inside a pipe that was cemented near the local river. The remains were exhumed with assistance from the SAPS Water Wing, Polokwane Emergency Services personnel and Lebowakgomo fire department equipment.

The motive behind the incident will be determined through ongoing police investigations. The DNA will be conducted for conclusive identification of the deceased as well as post-mortem to determine the cause of death.

The Provincial Commissioner has commended the investigating team for finally succeeding in arresting the suspect and recovering the remains, which will assist the family to finally have closure

“We commend the team for finally apprehending the suspect and recoverying the remains of the victim. Even though it took some time for the Police to crack this case, the family can take solace to the fact that the remains of their loved one have been found and the suspect arrested,” concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.

The suspect will be appearing in the Lebowakgomo Magistrate’s Court tomorrow 20 January 2023, facing a charge of kidnapping and murder.

The police investigations are continuing.

Source: South African Police Service