Cape Town – Police have arrested a third suspect in connection with the gruesome muti murder of 20-year-old Gontse Makhubela in Winterveld.
Acting North West Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, commended the SAPS Brits Detectives, supported by the Hartbeespoortdam Crime Prevention Unit, for arresting three suspects in relation to the November 2023 killing.
After a relentless investigation, police apprehended the third suspect in Winterveldt, Gauteng, where he was found in possession of the victim’s organs.
“Investigations revealed that the victim was tricked and lured to her death by the 29-year-old suspect, who had been tasked by the second suspect to find a young woman fitting a particular profile to be murdered so that the second suspect could use her organs for muthi,” said SAPS.
#sapsNW The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner of North West, Maj Gen Patrick Asaneng, has commended #SAPS Brits Detectives, supported by Hartbeespoortdam Crime Prevention, for the arrest of 3 suspects for November 2023 muthi murder.
The case relates to the alleged murder of… pic.twitter.com/xPUUCKxQn8
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) August 8, 2025
The 38-year-old third suspect has been identified as an illegal Mozambican witchdoctor who claims to be a traditional healer and is alleged to have orchestrated the brutal murder of the victim.
“On his orders, the deceased was kidnapped, brutally murdered, dismembered, and burnt,” confirmed SAPS.
This follows the arrest of two suspects, aged 29 and 38, on 6 August during an investigation led by the District Serious and Violent Crimes Team, which also recovered the deceased suspect’s cellphone.
According to The Citizen, rural criminologist Dr. Witness Maluleke said these killings were organised and well-orchestrated, resulting from collusion between foreigners and South Africans.
“Muti killings continue on our shores, with limited deterrent actions,” said Dr. Maluleke.
The two suspects will be charger with kidnapping, violation and defiling a corpse, and the Mozambiquan will face charges under the Section 49(1) of the Immigration Act and are expected to appear Brits Magistrate’s Court today.
“The third suspect, also a traditional healer from Mozambique, will appear in the Garankuwa Magistrate’s Court. There may be more arrests,” concluded Major General Asaneng.
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Compiled by Anda Tolibadi
