Two Teenagers Charged with Murder After Stabbing 19-year-old Girl to Death
In a rather tragic and disturbing development, two 18-year-olds accused of murdering a 19-year-old woman in Mataffin appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The suspects, Katlego Mokoena and Lungelo Sithole, face a charge of murder following the death of Lusanda Mathabela on Monday.
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Burglary Complaint Leads to Shocking Discovery
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the pair was arrested after police responded to a complaint of a residential burglary. When officers arrived, members of the Public Order Policing (POP) Unit were already on the scene.
Inside the home, police found Mathabela lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds. She was declared dead at the scene by emergency services.
Suspects Allegedly Entered by Scaling Wall
Preliminary investigations suggest that Mokoena and Sithole gained entry to the property by jumping over the wall, as construction was underway at the home. Inside the house, they allegedly encountered the victim. When she screamed, one of the suspects is said to have stabbed her.
Construction workers nearby heard the commotion and contacted the homeowner — the victim’s father — who was away at the time. While rushing home, he encountered POP Unit members on the roadside and alerted them to the situation.
The officers responded immediately and cornered and arrested the suspects.
Victim and Accused Knew Each Other
Police say that one of the suspects was previously a friend of Mathabela, though the motive for the incident has not yet been confirmed.
Case Postponed for Bail Application
The matter has been postponed to Wednesday for a formal bail application. The two accused will remain in custody until then.
Ndubane further revealed that one of the suspects is a Grade 12 learner, who is expected to write his examination while under police custody.