The police in MW Makhubele Police Station, formerly known as the Giyani Police Station, in conjuction with the Independent Complaint Directorate (ICD), are investigating a case of murder.

This follows the death of a 30-year-old awaiting-trial prisoner. The incident took place inside the station’s holding cells last Saturday morning at about 01:00.

Supt Moatshe Ngoepe, the spokesperson for the police in the Mopani area, said that the deceased, Ronald Chauke, was arrested last Friday. He was charged with housebreaking and theft.

According to the police statement, Chauke was found dead inside the holding cell in which he was kept the following morning. The statement indicates that the deceased was kept together with the other 10 awaiting-trial prisoners in the same cell.

The 10 prisoners who were in the same cell with the deceased during the incident have all been charged with murder. They were still to appear in the Giyani Magistrate’s Court at the time of going to press. The deceased was a resident of Nkuri village in the Sofasonke area.