The man accused of butchering an Eastern Cape mother and her five children with an axe on Tuesday night has been arrested
Eastern Cape police commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga, said the arrest had come as a result of the swift action by a multi-disciplinary team of investigators.
Ntshinga said the 32-year-old man was arrested on Thursday night in Ginsberg, King William’s Town.
The gruesome discovery of the lifeless bodies of Nomzamo Mhlanti, 42, and her children – Azakhiwe, 10, Yibanathi, 8, five-year-old twins Wineka and Thoko, and six-month-old Luphumlo – was made by the dead mother’s eldest son Balungile Mhlanti, 16, on Wednesday morning, according to DispatchLive.
The arrest follows after Ntshinga ordered an immediate activation of the 72-hour plan to arrest the perpetrator.
Ntshinga said the plan had made the work of the investigating team “very easy”.
Ntshinga added that the investigators had received information which led them to a flat allegedly belonging to a relative of the accused in Ginsberg, where they found and arrested the 32-year-old man hiding there.
It is alleged that the suspect, who cannot be identified until his court appearance, had escaped from Dabekweni Locality in Kwaaiman to find refuge in King William’s Town.
“Details on how he found his way to Ginsberg are still under investigation. The suspect is yet to be interviewed by the detectives in order to establish a comprehensive truth behind the tragic axe murders of his wife and five children. At the time of the arrest, the suspect is believed to have been preparing to flee South Africa back to his home country,” said Ntshinga in a statement.
“I am truly excited at this major breakthrough by the integration of capable and proficient detectives. Their sleepless nights of investigation have paid dividends. The suspect must now face the law.
“Crimes against women and children are a top priority of the South African Police Service, therefore our communities must not only hear this but must see its manifestations in the outcomes of the work that we do,” Ntshinga said.
Once he is charged, the man is expected to appear in the Mqanduli Magistrate’s Court on Monday on murder charges.
Ntshinga has expressed gratitude to members of the public who supported the police investigations until the arrest of the suspect.
Woman & toddler strangled to death at Limpopo lodge
Limpopo police have activated a 72-hour activation plan to arrest the killer of the woman and two-year-old child.
R350 grant: “Agents” charge R50 to queue for beneficiaries
Young men in Gauteng are making money by queuing on behalf of social grant beneficiaries at post offices.
Jo’burg mom of twins thanks ‘angel nurse’ for act of kindness amidst Covid hospital chaos
Bronwyn Kloppers had a very big scare when her twins were admitted to hospital after being diagnosed with Adenovirus and bronchial pneumonia.
Inspiring! These winning women prove that females can do anything
When one sees women thriving in careers society often views as reserved only for men, it is truly #inspiring.
Brace yourselves: MORE hefty fuel price hikes ahead
The (AA) released a statement commenting on unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. #FuelPriceHike
| SAPS Emergency Services | 10111 |
| Toll-free Crime Stop number | 086 00 10111 |
| GBV Command Centre | Contact the 24-hour Gender Based Violence Command Centre toll-free number 0800 428 428 to report abuse |
| STOP Gender Violence Helpline | Tel: 0800 150 150/ *120*7867# |
| South African Police Service | Report all cases of rape, sexual assault or any form of violence to a local police station or call the toll-free Crime Stop number: 086 00 10111 |
| Legal Aid South Africa | Call the toll-free Legal Aid Advice Line 0800110 110 for free legal aid if you cannot afford one |
| Commission for Gender Equality | Report Gender Discrimination and Abuse: 0800 007 709 |
| South African Human Rights Commission | Call 011 877 3600 to lodge a complaint about human rights violations. |
| Domestic violence Helpline | Stop Women Abuse: 0800 150 150 |
| AIDS Helpline | 0800 012 322 |
| The Warrior Project | FREE legal helpline for victims of domestic abuse: 0860 333 353 |
| People Opposed to Woman Abuse(Powa) | http://www.powa.co.za, Tel: 011 642 4345 |
| Child Welfare South Africa | http://childwelfaresa.org.za/, Tel: 074 080 8315 |
| Childline South Africa | http://www.childlinesa.org.za/, Tel: 0800 055 555 |
| Families South Africa (Famsa) | http://www.famsaorg.mzansiitsolutions.co.za/, Tel: 011 975 7106/7 |
| Tears Foundation | http://www.tears.co.za/, Free SMS helpline: *134*7355#, Tel: 010 590 5920 |
| The Trauma Centre | http://www.trauma.org.za/, Tel: 021 465 7373 |
| Thuthuzela Care Centres | http://isssasa.org.za/ |
Author: News24.com
