Africa-Press – South-Africa. A 23-year-old woman is one of the two people arrested following the murder of a Mpumalanga woman who was shot dead during the robbery of stokvel money.
The shooting happened on Saturday afternoon, when two armed people robbed a group of women while they were sharing the dividends of their stokvel at a house in Mshatsa, outside White River.
During the melee a 30-year-old woman was shot, according to Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
“It is alleged that, after three women were given their share and left, two armed men entered the house. They allegedly held the women hostage and robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash.
“It is further indicated that when they (the suspects) were leaving, one suspect shot at the woman,” said Mohlala.
The woman was taken to a nearby hospital by residents, but was certified dead on arrival.
Police opened a case of robbery and murder, and the investigation led them to a man and woman, both aged 23, who were arrested.
“The investigation is still ongoing, and police suspect that the robbery could have been orchestrated whereby suspects somehow knew about the women’s gathering prior to the incident,” said Mohlala.
Police could make more arrests as the investigation unfolds, he added.
The two arrested people are expected to appear in the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, said she was happy about the breakthrough which led to the arrests.
She also warned members of stokvel groups to be on the alert for “criminals who target unsuspecting victims that abstained and restrained themselves from spending their cash on things that they need most during the year, in order to make a withdrawal at the end of the year”.
“This is indeed a sad story. Hence, we advise the groups to approach their respective banks for rather safe alternative methods such as electronic transfers in order to prevent incidents like this,” Manamela said.
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