Latest news with #GontseMakhubela
The Citizen
20 hours ago
- The Citizen
Police crack muti murder case with third arrest
Police arrest third suspect linked to gruesome muti murder of 20-year-old Gontse Makhubela in Winterveldt. A third suspect was arrested at the weekend following the discovery of body parts stuffed in buckets in a backyard in Winterveldt, apparently used for rentals to foreigners. North West police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone confirmed an investigation led the police to Winterveldt, where the third suspect was arrested in possession of the organs of the deceased, Gontse Makhubela, 20. She was reported missing in November 2023. Makhubela's mutilated, partly burnt and decomposed corpse was recovered at a refuse dumpsite in Elandskraal in Brits. Police arrest third suspect linked to muti murder 'After an investigation by the district serious and violent crimes team, on 6 August, acting on credible information and having followed up on all the leads, two suspects were arrested.' Mokgwabone said the first two suspects arrested, aged 29 and 38, were allegedly positively linked to the murder after the police recovered the deceased's cellphone. 'An investigation revealed that the victim was tricked and allegedly lured to her death by the 29-year-old suspect, who was allegedly tasked by the other suspect to find a young woman fitting a particular profile to be murdered so that he could have her organs for muti,' he said. ALSO READ: Banging from inside car boot leads to shock discovery of trapped toddlers Mokgwabone added that the 38-year-old suspect is an illegal Mozambican witchdoctor who claims to be a traditional healer and, allegedly on his orders, Makhubela was kidnapped, murdered, dismembered and burnt. 'In addition to the murder, the first two suspects will be charged with kidnapping, violating and/or defiling a corpse and contravention of Section 49(1) of the Immigration Act against the Mozambican on appearance in the Brits Magistrate's Court. 'The third suspect, also a traditional healer from Mozambique, will appear in the Garankuwa Magistrate's Court. There may be more arrests,' he said. Limited deterrent actions against muti killings Rural criminologist Dr Witness Maluleke said these are well-organised and orchestrated crime practices, characterised by the collusion of South Africans and foreigners. 'Muti killings continue on our shores, with limited deterrent actions,' he said. Meantime, police said no suspects have been arrested in connection with four bodies dumped in Silverton, Pretoria, between two train stations in June and July. NOW READ: 'Murdered and dismembered': Was kidnapped Mooi River couple killed for muti?
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Court appearance for three men, including witchdoctors, linked to the murder of Gontse Makhubela
Three men to appear in the Brits Magistrate's Court on Monday, in connection with the brutal murder of Gontse Makhubela Image: File Three men, including two Mozambican witchdoctors, are set to appear in separate courtrooms this week in connection with the horrific murder of 20-year-old Gontse Makhubela, whose mutilated and partly burnt body was found at a refuse dump in November 2023. The suspects were apprehended following a meticulous investigation by the North West police's District Serious and Violent Crimes Team. The arrests and forthcoming court appearances were confirmed in a statement by the South African Police Service. Makhubela was reported missing by her family before her badly decomposed body was discovered at a dumping site in Elandskraal, Brits, on November 23, 2023. Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone says she was allegedly lured to her death by one of the suspects. "The victim was tricked and lured to death by the 29-year-old suspect who the second suspect tasked to find a young woman fitting a particular profile to be murdered in order that the second suspect could have her organs for muthi," said Mokgwabone. The investigation revealed a sinister plot orchestrated by a Mozambican man who claims to be a traditional healer. "Investigation has also revealed that the 38-year-old suspect is an illegal Mozambican witchdoctor, and, on his orders, the deceased was kidnapped before she was brutally murdered, dismembered and burnt," said Mokgwabone. The breakthrough in the case came on August 6, 2025, when police, acting on credible information, arrested two suspects, aged 29 and 38. The men were linked to the murder after police recovered Makhubela's cellular phone. Further investigation led police to Winterveldt in Gauteng province, where a third suspect, also a traditional healer from Mozambique, was arrested. Police revealed a chilling detail: the third suspect "was found in possession of the deceased's organs." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The first two suspects, aged 29 and 38, are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate's Court today. They face charges of murder, kidnapping, violation and/or defiling a corpse, as well as contravention of Section 49(1) of the Immigration Act. The third suspect is scheduled to appear in the Garankuwa Magistrate's Court on Monday, August 11, 2025. Investigations are ongoing, and police have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests. The North West Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, commended the dedicated work of the Brits Detectives and the Hartbeespoortdam Crime Prevention team. IOL News
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Police crack 2023 ritual murder after healer allegedly found in possession of the deceased's organs
A traditional healer is expected to appear in the Garankuwa magistrate's court on Monday in connection with the 2023 murder of 20-year-old Gontse Makhubela. The 38-year-old man from Mozambique was arrested in Winterveldt on Thursday after he was allegedly found in possession of Makhubela's organs. Her mutilated, partly burnt and badly decomposed body was found at a refuse dumping site in Elandskraal, Brits, on November 23 2023. He is the third suspect to be arrested in the case after the earlier arrests of two other men. Samuel Mlambo, 38, and Serame Moroke, 29, were arrested last Wednesday. Their case was postponed to August 19 for a bail application after their appearance in court on Friday. In addition to murder, the duo are charged with kidnapping, violation and/or defiling of a corpse and contravention of the Immigration Act. According to police, Mlambo and Moroke were linked to the murder after officers recovered the deceased's phone. Police spokesperson Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said it is believed the victim was tricked by Moroke after Mlambo tasked him to find a young woman fitting a particular profile to be murdered so Mlambo could have her organs for muti. He had allegedly consulted the traditional healer. Mokgwabone said investigations are continuing, with the possibility of more arrests. TimesLIVE
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Mozambican traditional healers arrested in for kidnapping, muthi murder
Two traditional healers, both Mozambican nationals, were arrested in connection with the murder of 20-year-old Gontse Makhubela. Two Mozambican traditional healers are among three suspects that have been arrested in connection with the 2023 murder of a young woman. The recovery of the victim's cellphone led investigators to the suspects and the discovery of the woman's organs. Two suspects made their first appearance in court on Friday, while another is due in court on Monday. Mutilated body The badly decomposed body of Gontse Makhubela was discovered at a refuse dumping site in Brits in November 2023. The 20-year-old's corpse had been mutilated and partly burnt, starting a difficult search for the perpetrators. After a wait to identify the deceased, investigations by Brits detectives and Hartbeespoortdam crime prevention obtained Makhubela's cellphones. Her conversations with the suspects was still present on the device, allowing investigators to trace the three men. The conversations allegedly show how Makhubela was lured into a meeting with a suspect before she was kidnapped and murdered. 'Defiling a corpse' Police report that a 29-year-old suspect was hired by a 38-year-old Mozambican traditional healer to find a woman who matched Makhubela's description, allegedly for ritual muthi purposes. After finding a suitable victim, the young suspect is alleged to have kidnapped, murdered, mutilated and burnt the woman. 'Further investigation led to the arrest of a third suspect [also a traditional healer from Mozambique] in Winterveld, Gauteng, who was found in possession of the deceased's organs,' police confirmed on Friday. 'Investigations into the matter continue and further arrests are possible.' The suspects are set to face murder charges, with the traditional healer and his accomplice also to be charged with kidnapping and defiling a corpse. 'The Mozambican suspect will face charges under Section 49(1) of the Immigration Act,' police said. NOW READ: GBV: Are we losing this war?
