A 30-year-old suspect, Freddy Modiba has today, Friday 21 May 2021 appeared before the Naphuno magistrate’s court in Maake outside Tzaneen in connection with the alleged murder of a 35-year-old woman who was said to be his girlfriend. The incident allegedly took place at Tickyline village in the early hours of Thursday 06 May 2021 at about 03h00.
The case was postponed to 28 May 2021 for formal bail application and further police investigations.
It is alleged that the victim Lindiwe Mogale accompanied her boyfriend to buy litres of petrol at a filling station in Nkowa Nkowa. The couple thereafter, proceeded to the boyfriend’s house at Tickyline village but on the way, they reportedly got into a heated argument.
The quarrel apparently continued when they arrived at the house. The suspect then poured petrol on his girlfriend and set the house alight. The neighbours were alarmed by the frantic screams and immediately went to the house. Upon arrival, they reportedly found that the victim was engulfed by the fire but managed to put it down.
Police and medical emergency personnel were summoned. The victim was taken to hospital with serious burn wounds but the suspect had fled the scene. Cases of attempted murder and arson were then opened and the police commenced with a manhunt for the suspect who had already reportedly fled to Gauteng Province.
The victim succumbed to the injuries in hospital on Friday 14 May 2021 and the attempted murder case was consequently converted into murder.
The suspect was arrested on Wednesday 19 May 2021, after he handed himself over to the police at Maake.3
