Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa

25 June 2025

Three male suspects, aged between 23 and 34, were arrested by the police today, Wednesday, 25 June 2025, in connection with a case of kidnapping, carjacking, and murder of Mr. Sam Thabiso Maimela (60), who was last seen on Friday, 20 June 2025, around 23h00.

According to a report, the man who was working as an educator at a high school in Kwaggafontein is said to have been driving his vehicle, a Haval, and he later reached home, but as he was about to enter his residence, it is said that he was approached by three suspects who allegedly hijacked and kidnapped him. Members of his family tried to get hold of him on his mobile phone without any success. The matter was then reported to the police, and through investigation by the team of experts in the investigation field, a search was conducted.

Stakeholders involved in the operation include Crime Intelligence (from Head Office & from the former Kwamhlanga Cluster), detectives from the Provincial Office and Tweefontein SAPS, members from the Criminal Record Centre (CRC), and Vispol members from the Nkangala District and Tweefontein SAPS. The investigation was intensified, with role players working around the clock until they made a breakthrough.

The team initially located the tracker as well as the victim’s vehicle in the KwaMhlanga area on Saturday, 21 June 2025, but the victim could not be found. Be that as it may, the members worked relentlessly until they arrested the trio.

It is through investigation that the team discovered that the victim was killed and dumped in a secluded area at Gemsbokspruit, near Tweefontein. The information was followed, and the victim’s body was found. The forensic team, together with all other roleplayers, has been at the scene as part of the investigation. A postmortem will be conducted; however, it is suspected that the victim was shot. The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage, and it will form part of the investigation.

The three are expected to appear at the Kwamhlanga Magistrate’s Court soon.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr.) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has commended members for their hard work, though the victim was found dead. “We welcome the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the vehicle. We are adamant that the victim’s family will find closure and justice,” said the general.