MOPANI – The police in Mopani have arrested three suspects, following the death of a 72-year-old man, Samuel Baloyi of Tekanenge Village. The incident took place at Tekanenge village in the Ritavi area two weeks ago, on Saturday, October 30.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani Area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, Mr Baloyi left his home on Saturday afternoon. He told the members of his family that he was going to his mealie field. The family was astonished to see that the old man did not return later that afternoon.

They started searching all over the area that night. His dead body was found lying in the mealie field the following day. According to the police statement, there were multiple stab wounds to his head and that his ears had been cut off. A hand-held hoe and panga were found next to Mr Baloyi’s body.

The police had since appealed to anyone with information relating to the case to contact the nearest police station. According to the police statement, they were receiving information from concerned residents on a day-to-day basis ever since they had made a plea to the community to assist them with information relating to the incident.

Three suspects, John Mphonyane (63) of Petanenge village, a resident of Mozambique, Frank Makhubele (30) and Thomas Mkhabele (35) of Lusaka settlement, were arrested over the weekend. They appeared in the Ritavi magistrate’s court on Monday. They were not asked to plead and the case was postponed to next Tuesday, November 16. They will be in custody until the next court date as they were refused bail. According to the police statement, Makhubele is a well-known traditional healer in the area.