The officer's boyfriend, who is the murder suspect, Moscow Yiga, abandoned his bail application during his second appearance in the Reitz Magistrate's Court. This is confirmed by the National Prosecution Authority's provincial spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping. 

Shuping also tells OFM News that the brother of the murder suspect is being charged with defeating the ends of justice, and will reappear in the same court on 6 September. Phaladi says that the mother of the suspect, who was arrested for allegedly failing to provide the police with crucial information, was never charged as there is not enough evidence linking her to the crime.

OFM News previously reported Yiga's brother was arrested and charged with being an accessory, after the murder of Malinga. The police officer is suspected to have been strangled to death.

"It is alleged that the deceased called her colleagues in the early hours of 21 August 2021, at about 02:15, seeking assistance and alleging that her boyfriend was assaulting her. The two police constables, who were off duty, went with the sergeant who was on duty at the time, to search for her.

"The deceased and the suspect were in a relationship but were not staying together," said police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele.

OFM News