A suspect who allegedly paid killers R11,000 is among four who were arrested after a 30-year-old kidnapped KuGompo City woman was strangled to death and her body set alight.
Zovuyo Mbana went missing last week.
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Family and friends launched a frantic search on social media shortly after she disappeared.
According to her family’s social media post, Mbana’s last location was near Mdantsane in Grinika, a notorious area where countless bodies of missing people have been found over the years.
On Wednesday afternoon, police confirmed the arrests and the discovery of the woman’s body.
“A 30-year-old woman who was reported missing over the weekend has been found dead,” police spokesperson Brig Nobuntu Gantana said.
“Her body was discovered on Monday alongside the N6 near Kwetyana village, close to KuGompo City.”
Gantana said on Sunday police received a missing persons report concerning Mbana.
She was reportedly last seen leaving Malcomess Park in Southernwood with a colleague. “Investigators conducted interviews to trace the last movements of the deceased,” Gantana said.
“Further inquiries led to the recovery of her body alongside the N6 near Kwetyana village. It is alleged that the victim was strangled in a vehicle.
“Following the murder, three suspects searched for a location just off the N6 to dispose of the body.
“At the scene, they reportedly placed old tyres on the victim’s corpse and set it alight.
“The victim’s personal belongings were discarded; one cellphone was later found near a river close to the body.”
Three suspects, two aged 30 and one aged 40, have been formally charged with kidnapping and murder.
“During the investigation, a fourth suspect was identified as the alleged mastermind who paid the others to commit the murder,” Gantana said.
“The 53-year-old man later handed himself in at the police station in KuGompo City.
“He reportedly confessed to paying the other three suspects R11,000 — R6,000 before the murder and R5,000 afterwards.
“He has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.”
The four suspects appeared in the magistrate’s court in KuGompo City on Wednesday.
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The case was postponed for a formal bail application.
The police investigation is ongoing.
