The Phuthaditjhaba police in the Free State have make a breakthrough in the killing of teacher Booi Azola Mkhondo (30), whose murder was first believed to have been related to hijacking. This came in the form of the recovery of the victim’s Polo, and a suspect subsequently handing himself over to the police.
The slain teacher worked at the Makabelane Technical School in Phuthaditjhaba, Qwaqwa. The police investigation entails forensic analysis and probing into the motive for the murder.
WO Mmako Mophiring, spokesperson for the police in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region, said Mkhondo’s Polo sedan was recovered in Vereeniging, which forms part of an area known as the Vaal Triangle in the Gauteng province. The victim’s body was found on Friday, 5 July, disposed of alongside the R711 road between Clarens and Golden Gate.
According to Mophiring, the recovery of the car and the suspect handing himself over to the police were key clues in the investigation of the killing of Mkhondo.
“The car was locked, not tampered with. Blood stains were visible inside the vehicle, and this prompted the forensic analysis as part of the investigation. The victim’s body had multiple stab wounds and his clothes also had blood stains,” said Mophiring.
According to Mophiring, the recovery of the vehicle ruled out the initial possibility of hijacking.
“Some belongings of Mkhondo have been discovered with the 29-year-old man who handed himself over to the Fouriesburg police. The investigation will establish the motive behind his murder and the location of his vehicle. It has been established that the person is a friend of Mkhondo, who reported him as missing with friends on Saturday, 6 July, at the Phuthaditjhaba police station,” said Mophiring.
He said the suspect, who resides in Mashaeng, Fouriesburg, handed himself over to the police on Sunday, two days after victim’s body had been found by a Golden Gate National Park officer, who informed the police. He said the body was found at about 10:00.
Mophiring said the suspect would appear in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrates’ Court, facing a charge of murder. Mkhondo is reportedly originally from the Eastern Cape.
