| Court Update: Missing woman's body found in Sweetwaters | |
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| Date Published: | 2014/06/17 |
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Media Statement from KwaZulu Natal
Media Centre 17 June 2014 Sibongiseni Africa Mbhele(26) appeared in the Ntuzuma Magistrates' Court this morning, Tuesday 17 June 2014 on a charge of murder. The case was remanded to 24 June 2014 at the Ntuzuma Magistrates' Court. He will remain in custody until his next court hearing. On Saturday, 15 June 2014, after a week long search, for a missing KwaMashu woman, police were lead to Sweetwaters, where her body was found. On Sunday 08 June 2014 her family reported her missing to KwaMashu police as she was not seen after she left work on Friday evening. Police investigations revealed that on Friday 6 June 2014 the suspect met the victim Phumzile Precious Mkhize(42) at her place of employment in Kwamashu. They left her office together in her car. On Sunday her family realized that she was missing and reported it to the police. Her vehicle was recovered by police in Sweetwaters near Pietermaritzburg and three suspects were arrested after they were found in possession of her car, a red Polo Vivo. A fourth suspect who also was in possession of the car was later arrested by police. After further investigation detectives were able to identify who was behind her disappearance. The suspect (26) was arrested by detectives on Saturday 14 June 2014 in the Chesterville area. In the early hours of this morning police discovered the victim's remains at a shallow grave in Sweetwaters. Her body was exhumed by detectives and the police's Search and Rescue Unit. The investigation was carried out jointly by detectives from Plessislaer and Inanda with the assistance of members of the Tactical Response Team. The suspect is expected to appear in the Ntuzuma Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 17 June 2014 on a charge of murder. At this stage it is still unclear as to why the suspect murdered Miss Mkhize. Investigations revealed that she was murdered shortly after she left work. Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni congratulated all the police officers involved from the various specialised units within the Province. "It is because the dedication and expertise of our police officers that this case was solved. It is tragic that what was a missing person's case has now been confirmed as a murder," she said. -End- Media Enquiries: Colonel Jay Naicker Mobile: 082 556 7865 KwaZulu-Natal:
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