North West police spokesperson, Amanda Funani, told OFM News previously the duo, who are 23 and 30-years-old respectively, were tracked and traced to Soshanguve township in Pretoria last week, where they were apprehended for the crime. 

They are facing murder and robbery charges after they allegedly accosted Elizabeth Kgope – a mother to a one-month-old baby at the time – as she was on her way to the offices of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) on 17 June to have her baby registered for a grant.

Funani says the duo is alleged to have cornered the deceased just as she got off of a taxi on the morning of June 17 and proceeded to stab her before fleeing the scene with her handbag. Despite the suspects being apprehended in Gauteng, the case was opened in the North West area of Hebron, which is on the border between the NW and GP province. It is yet to be determined if the case will be transferred back to the North West.

The apprehension of the two men for the brutal murder formed part of a major two-day raid operation last week, in which a total of 252 people were arrested for varied crimes. More than 50% of those arrested were nabbed for violent crimes, such as murder, rape, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, amongst others.

All the arrests took place in all four districts of the North West and include lesser violent crimes such as malicious damage to property, contravention of protection order, theft, burglary residential, and business and stock theft. Funani says most of the suspects have already appeared before courts within the province while others like the above-mentioned suspects are expected to appear in courts across the province today.

“The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena commended detectives for the arrests and indicated that operations such as this one will continue,” concludes Funani.

OFM News