SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR THE ROBBERY OF DR ESTHER MAHLANGU
Nelspruit: 07 April 2022 – The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has appreciated the sterling work done by the established team of detectives who arrested and charged two suspects, aged 32 and 37 years of age in connection with the robbery of a renowned Ndebele Artist, Dr Esther Nostokana Mahlangu, aged 87.
A total of seven (7) suspects were brought in for questioning and five (5) were released after obtaining statements from them, as they could not be linked with the robbery.  According to the report, Police pounced on the first suspect at around 02:00 in the morning at Mogononong in Siyabuswa. He was found with the firearm and its serial number filed off, hidden in the toilet cistern, wrapped in a plastic. He then pointed the second suspect where he bought the firearm from.
The second suspect bought it from the third suspect. The third suspect pointed the forth suspect where he also bought it from.
The forth suspect (37) confessed to be the one who broke into the house and took the firearm, money and safe. The safe was found grinded at Ramokgeletsana, few kilometres from Siyabuswa.
Dr Mahlangu was robbed and attacked at her residential place in Weldervrede near Siyabuswa on Saturday, 19 March 2022 around 15h00.  During the robbery, the defenceless pensioner was reportedly assaulted and strangled where her hands were tied with a cord. The suspect then searched her bedroom and took a safe containing a 7. 65 mm pistol as well as an undisclosed amount of cash and bundles of keys then fled the scene. She was left helpless and she sustained some injuries on her face but was later found by her granddaughter who alerted the neighbours.
The two suspects are charged with possession of un lawful firearm and house robbery. They are expected to appear before Mdutjana Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, 08 April, 2022.
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