Mpumalanga police are actively searching for the perpetrators responsible for the ambush and murder of two contract workers who were attacked after dropping off a vehicle at a workshop in Thusiville, Ermelo.
According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli, the tragic incident occurred on Thursday, October 31, around 8 AM.
“The victims, aged 37 and 40, were reportedly taking a vehicle in for servicing when they met their untimely fate,” Mdhluli explained. “After dropping off the vehicle at the workshop, they were returning to work in another car when they were attacked.”
Mdhluli noted that the investigation into the details surrounding the incident is ongoing. He added that one victim was found deceased inside the vehicle, while the other was located outside. Several empty cartridges were discovered at the scene.
The motive behind the killings remains unclear. Meanwhile, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting police commissioner in Mpumalanga, assured the public that a dedicated team of investigators is working on the case. “Our officers are committed to bringing those responsible to justice,” Mkhwanazi stated.
In a separate but similar case, Mpumalanga police are also looking into two additional double murders that have resulted in four fatalities.
The first incident occurred on Sunday, October 20, when officers discovered the bodies of two women inside a white BMW on the N4 highway near the Arnot off-ramp in Middelburg. Both victims had been shot and were pronounced dead at the scene. One has been identified as Ayanda Mayibongwe Maphalala, while the other remains unidentified. Investigators found that the car’s license plates had been removed, which were later recovered nearby.
Colonel Mdhluli confirmed that police are diligently working to piece together the circumstances of this tragic event.
In another case in Kabokweni, police responded to reports of two men found with stolen property in Emanyaveni. Upon arrival, they discovered the men dead from gunshot wounds, with no witnesses present. Family members later identified the deceased, and no arrests have been made related to this incident.
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