Suspect Released After Alleged Murder Confession
A man who allegedly confessed to kidnapping and forcing a Grade 12 Lowveld High School pupil to take her own life in KaNyamazane has been released from police custody.
nnnnThe suspect was expected to appear in the KaNyamazane District Court on Monday, 17 March 2025, three days after the incident.
nnnnAccording to police reports, the 17-year-old victim left home at around 5:45 a.m. on 14 March to catch the bus to school. Along the way, she encountered the 23-year-old suspect near a shop. He allegedly forced her to his house, located a street away.
nnnnMpumalanga police spokesperson Lt-Col Jabu Ndubane stated that the victim knew the suspect. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the suspect called the police, reporting that the girl had committed suicide.
nnnnOfficers arrived at the scene in Extension 16, where they found the victim covered with a duvet and a rope around her neck. Initially, the suspect claimed the room belonged to his brother, but the brother denied this, stating that it was, in fact, the suspect’s room.
nnnnAuthorities arrested the suspect and charged him with murder. According to Ndubane, he confessed to the crime. However, Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa revealed that the suspect was not indicted, and the case was not enrolled, resulting in his release.
nnnnNyuswa explained that the prosecution requested further investigations before proceeding. The post-mortem report, which will confirm the victim’s cause of death, remains outstanding.
nnnnRegarding the suspect’s alleged confession, Nyuswa stated, “Confession statements often face challenges, as suspects may later claim they were made under duress.”
nnnnThe investigation is ongoing, and the docket will be reviewed once all evidence is finalized.
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