Staff Reporter
A 21-year-old man is expected to appear in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrates Court on Friday in connection with the killing of five family members in QwaQwa last weekend.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo said the man was arrested on Wednesday evening in Mphatlalatsane in the eastern Free State town.
“Within the 72 hours threshold given by the acting provincial commissioner for the Free State, Major General Solly Lesia, a breakthrough was made when on Wednesday . . . at about 19:30 a 21-year-old man was arrested,” she said in a statement.
Mbambo said an integrated team of investigators appointed to probe the family murders worked round the clock to trace those responsible for the gruesome killings.
“We are expecting to make more arrests soon,” Lesia is quoted as saying in the statement.
The incident is believed to have occurred late on Saturday into the early hours of Sunday.
When police arrived at the crime scene at Marakong Village, Namahadi, they found the body of Moliehi Thoabala, 38, with a gunshot wound to the stomach.
The body of her husband, Safolo Mofokeng, 36, was found burnt in the house.
In another house, they found the bodies of Relebohile Lemeko, 48, her daughter Masabata Lemeko, 25, and son, Tatolo Lemeko, 22, also burnt.
An 11-month-old baby was allegedly hit with a knobkerrie on the nose and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
The motive for the killings remains unknown.
The police are pursuing a case of murder, arson and attempted murder.