According to police, barely hours after the 22-year-old suspect was brought into the Mutale Police Station on a charge of rape he allegedly killed Warrant Officer Mmbulaheni Mulanduli and escaped from custody. He had been brought into custody after charges of rape, kidnapping and contravening a restraining order were laid against him.
Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, says at the time of the arrest the suspect was out on R4 000 bail for a car hijacking charge that was allegedly committed in January. It is believed that on Friday, he attacked officer Mulanduli while he was on a routine patrol of the cells. The suspect then allegedly took safe keys from the Warrant Officer and stole an undisclosed amount of cash before escaping.
Limpopo police search for an escapee who stabbed an officer to death:
The suspect was re-arrested on Sunday morning together with his 36-year-old uncle at a traditional healer’s compound. It is believed that the sharp object used to stab Mulanduli as well keys and some of the money stolen from the police station, were also recovered during the arrest. Mojapelo says charges of murder, robbery and escaping from lawful custody have been added against the suspect.
“The provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo has greatly commended the team of investigators for arresting the suspect who brutally killed a police officer in Mutale police cells on Friday. The suspect was arrested together with his uncle after the two visited a Sangoma. His uncle will face a charge of defeating the ends of justice. Police recovered the alleged murder weapon, the keys and some of the money that was stolen.”
Mojapelo says the suspect will appear before the Mutale Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
