MOPANI – The police in Mopani are investigating two murder cases, following two separate incidents that took place in the area during the past weeks.

The first incident took place at Rotterdam village in the Hlanganani area early last week. According to the spokesperson for the police in the Mopani area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, the neighbours of Mr Jack Kubayi (40) found him lying inside his house early last week. He had some wounds to his body and was bleeding profusely.

They took him to Elim Hospital. At that stage, he could not speak. He passed away in hospital over the weekend. According to the police statement, it was shortly before he died that Kubayi told the nursing staff that unknown people had assaulted him.

The police then opened a murder case and were still searching for the culprits at the time of going to press. They appealed to anyone who has information relating to the case to contact the nearest police station.

The other incident took place at Matswi Village in the Bolobedu area. According Capt Ngoepe, a 20-year-old man was apprehended by an angry mob on Sunday afternoon. The statement indicates that the man was severely tortured before he confessed that he was the one who had shot and killed a resident of that area, Mr Malikuti Matswi, some weeks ago.

Capt Moatshe Ngoepe said one of the angry residents produced a firearm and shot the suspect in the leg during the incident. The suspect was later taken to hospital, where his condition was said to be unstable at the time of going to press. He was under police guard in hospital.

Ngoepe said the suspect was on the list of people who were wanted by the police when the mob apprehended him. He was being linked to an armed robbery case that took place in the area some time ago.