MAKHADO – Police have made a breakthrough in the Hayward double murder case with the arrest of a 19-year-old Zimbabwean, Themba Chirume the past week.

The news of the double murder of the Hayward couple last week, send shockwaves through the local and national community. It also sparked a massive man hunt by the police for the alleged perpetrator(s). Police combed the plantation area surrounding the Mountain View Hotel by using both ground forces and a police helicopter, working literally day and night.

It was however the clever use of modern technology that led to the arrest of Chirume. Upon establishing that the Hayward’s cellphone was also taken during the incident, 205 warrants were serves upon the different cellphone service providers. This allowed authorities the trace the handset, even though the sim-card was removed. It led police straight to were Chirume was hiding at Makungwi Village outside Thohoyandou.

Chirume, a former employee of the Haywards, were taken to Musina on Monday morning were he made an admission of guilt. He also implicated two other Zimbabwean men in the murder of the Hayward couple. Prior to this, he took police to a place where two firearms, one belonging to the Hayward couple and another stolen from the SANDF base at Makhado, were recovered.

Chirume appeared in court late Monday afternoon on charges of murder and armed robbery. His case was postponed for a period of seven days until November 1 to give investigating officers the opportunity to verify his personal details. During this time he will not be allowed to ably for bail.

It is, however, doubtful whether the court will grant Chirume bail. A warrant for his arrest was issued almost a year ago, following the theft of a sound system at the Mountain View Hotel. Chirume was captured and appeared in court following the incident, but disappeared after he was granted bail.

By the time of going to press, the police were apparently hot on the trail of the two other suspects.