THREE suspects involved in a Madlankala traumatic rape and murder case were speedily apprehended by the police, following information from community members.
Musa Cele (25), Nkululeko Zwane (18) and Bongani Nkwanyana (39) are apparently part of the ‘gang of four’, that killed a young man, hijacked his car, kidnapped and gang-raped his female friend last Monday.
According to police, at 10pm, four men approached the deceased’s car parked outside his house.
One suspect shot him through the window, killing him instantly.
They took his cellphones and his licensed firearm and drove away in his VW Golf 6 with a 25-year-old female inside.
Speaking after the incident, she said the ‘gang’ took her into a forest in uGobandlovu, where they repeatedly sexually assaulted her.
She was only found the following day and rushed to hospital.
The abandoned car was recovered in uGobandlovu area on the same day.
Detective Sboniso Nkambule said they received information from the community about the suspects’ whereabouts.
‘We found one of them on Thursday in uMkhobose area, in possession of the deceased’s gun.
‘His arrest led to the other two. The weapon used during the murder, a 38 pistol, was also recovered with one of the suspects.
‘We are still looking for the fourth suspect, and working around the clock to ensure that he is also behind bars,’ said Nkambule.
They were charged with murder, car hijacking, kidnapping and rape and appeared briefly at the eSikhawini District Court on Monday, and the case was remanded for 9 January for a formal bail hearing.
ESikhawini police spokesperson Lt Thembinkosi Mkhumane applauded the detectives for their quick arrest.
‘When the community works together with the police and contacts us with information, it makes it easy for us to do our job,’ he said.
