Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
14 November 2024
A teenager (17) was arrested after a CPF Patroller (35) was reportedly stabbed to death whilst two other CPF members sustained some injuries after, they too were stabbed, allegedly by the same suspect.
The incident is said to have occurred near a certain Shop at Mpatseni Trust in Masoyi in the evening of Monday, 11 November 2024 around 21h00.
Members of the public as they cornered the suspect then brought him to the Police Station in Masoyi today, Tuesday 12 November 2024.
The Circumstances surrounding this mysterious incident are currently under Police investigation however when the men and women in Blue arrived at the scene after being alerted, they found a lifeless body of a male person, that was later identified as Mr Difference Fankomo, a CPF Community Patroller.
Two other CPF members were found lying on the ground with some injuries. A murder case, with two counts of attempted murder, is being probed.The motive for this incident is currently unknown and it forms part of the investigation.
The victims are said to have been attacked by a male suspect who was in possession of a knife and he is fingered in the whole saga. Whether or not the case was opened with regard to the issue of a cell phone that is a bone of contention, the fact remains that a CPF member was stabbed and sadly died whilst two other CPF members were stabbed but survived to tell the tale. After the incident, the suspect fled the scene.
The injured victims were taken to a nearby Clinic for medical treatment and were discharged. They were later taken to Hospital for further medical attention.
Up to so far, a team of investigators has been established to investigate this case.
Police launched a manhunt for the suspect. After his arrest, Police continued with the investigation and thus far, they managed to recover a knife which is believed to be the one possibly used in the commission of crime.
Due to the fact that the suspect is a minor, Police Investigators are working in collaboration with Probation Officers.
Preliminary investigation by the team has also unearthed that the suspect could be allegedly could be involved in another murder of a male victim (50) that was also stabbed to death at Mahushu, Masoyi in August 2023.
The suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
Meanwhile the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi has strongly condemned the attack of CPF Patrollers whilst appreciating members of the public for apprehending the suspect.
“We cannot allow a situation of lawlessness to prevails. Whoever commits crime should know that there are consequences. We hope that justice will be served for the victims, ” said the General.
