Staff Reporter
Four men have been arrested in Sasolburg after one of them allegedly confessed to killing a woman and dumping the body in a pit latrine.
The deceased, Mohanua Kobedi, 34, was last seen alive by her sister-in-law on the night of February 3, 2019 at her house in Harry Gwala, Zamdela Township, in the large industrial town, about 340km north-east of Bloemfontein.
Provincial police spokesperson Sam Makhele said in a statement released Monday that the four were arrested Sunday after members of the Tactical Response Team, Provincial Task Team and Zamdela Trio Task Team pursued a tip-off on the reported missing person.
“The investigation led the team to the arrest of the first suspect who co-operated with the police,” he said.
Makhele said the suspect revealed information that led to the discovery of the body of the missing woman whose body was found dumped in a pit toilet in the yard of a local church.
He said arrangements were immediately made to exhume the decomposed body.
“Ultimately four suspects (two males and two females) aged between 30 and 56 were arrested and charged with murder,” Makhele said.
The motive for the murder is yet to be established but preliminary investigations have revealed that the deceased was strangled in her house before her body was disposed of in the pit toilet.
The woman’s family said when they last saw her, she was carrying a small handbag like someone going somewhere but never returned home.
The body is expected to undergo forensic tests to confirm if the remains are those of Kobedi.
The suspects will appear at the Sasolburg Magistrates Court Wednesday.