Nelspruit: 17 August 2023 - The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela calls on community members to refrain from taking law in to their own hands. This comes after two members of the vigilante group known as 'iSkebhe' were arrested in Daggakraal outside Piet Retief on Saturday 12 August 2023.
The duo, Jan Shongwe (52) and Elphus Thwala (67) appeared in Amersfoort Magistrate's Court on Monday 14 August 2023. Shongwe and Thwala were arrested after they allegedly kidnapped a 19 year old victim who is suspected to be involved in stock theft in the area.
According to information, the victim was taken to a hostel in Gauteng on Saturday 05 August 2023 at about 23:00 where he was assaulted and brought back the following day, but dropped off at Perdekop where he was left to fend for himself. He managed to reach home and registered the case at Daggakraal SAPS. Both suspects were arrested on kidnapping and assault cases. They were on Monday 14 August 2023 released from custody by the court for further investigation. The victim was also arrested in connection with the murder of a 37 year old female whose body was exhumed from a swallow grave in Daggakraal cemetery.
Preliminary investigation indicated that he was the last person to be seen with Ellen Dlamini who went missing on Friday 04 August 2023 whilst she was from a local tavern and her body recovered on Friday 11 August 2023.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela warned community members to report any suspicious criminal activities and refrain from conducting Kangaroo court. "Vigilantism has a negative impact on our investigations, now we nearly lost a potential suspect in the murder case," warned the General.