TSHIOZWI – What started as a romantic excursion between a 37-year-old teacher and his lover in the Tshiozwi grazing camp on August 8, ended with the Tshilwavhusiku SAPS’s opening a murder case.

Mirror learnt that the deceased, Mr Itani Lisoga from Madabani, was approached by two unknown criminals wearing balaclavas while making love with his girl friend from Madombidzha inside his Toyota Corolla. According to the statement from the police, the suspects instructed the deceased to get out of his car and then they shot him in the chest.

The deceased was found naked about five metres away from the vehicle. As the murderers are still at large, Insp Tshililo Mammburu of the Tshilwavhusiku SAPS said that police investigation are continuing, but he urged community members with information that can lead to the arrest of the two suspects to make use of the suggestion box at their nearest police station.

The girlfriend escaped the incident without being injured, and it is alleged that she was ordered to lie down as the suspects took groceries, a car radio and a cellphone from the vehicle before they fled on foot.

The police are appealing to community members to refrain from making love in the bushes. “People must consider taking out their lovers to hotels and lodges,” they said. Early this year, a prison warder who was employed at the Sinthumule/Kutama Maximum Security Prison was found murdered in the same bushes.

The Tshilwavhusiku SAPS also requested members of the community to assist them to re-arrest a suspect who escaped from custody on October 3, 2003. The suspect, Boy Ralufhe, escaped from the Tshilwavhusiku holding cells with Leonard Sadiki (26) and David Muhanelwa (23) and Mpho Matambule. Matambule is currently serving a sentence in the Pretoria Central Prison.

Both Sadiki and Muhanelwa were arrested in Pretoria last week and are expected to appear in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court soon. According to the Tshilwavhusiku police, the gang was arrested for rape and armed robbery cases.

They described Ralufhe as a most dangerous suspect, whom community members must not attempt to apprehend. “We urge community members to inform the police as soon as they see him,” said Insp Mammburu.