A 30-year-old owner of a rehabilitation center was arrested in Mopani District, in Limpopo, in connection with the brutal murder of a 29-year-old man.
The victim passed away after being admitted in a critical condition at Mankweng Hospital earlier this month.
Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said on 2 July 2025 in the afternoon, the 30-year-old suspect departed with a 29-year-old victim from his residence at Ga-Sekgopo village, bringing the latter to the rehabilitation center under the Modjadjiskloof policing area.
“The victim was allegedly assaulted on his body and later locked inside an isolated room while swollen and having bruises. The victim, according to information, was struggling to walk and unable to bathe until he was taken back to his residence at Ga-Sekgopo village on 10 July 2025,” said Ledwaba.
The injured man was immediately rushed to the Mankweng Hospital where he was admitted, in a critical condition.
On 14 July, the 29-year-old man succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, and a case of inquest was registered at Mankweng police station.
“Forensic post-mortem analysis was conducted on 18 July 2025 and a pathologist confirmed that the deceased had sustained severe injuries. The case of an inquest was then changed to murder on Monday, and transferred to Modjadjiskloof police station for further investigations,” said Ledwaba.
An immediate manhunt of the alleged killer was launched by members of the Mopani tracking team, together with Modjadjiskloof police, until the suspect was apprehended the next day, on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old man was charged with murder. He is expected to appear before the Modjadjiskloof District Court on Thursday.
Earlier this month, reported that a Westville family is seeking justice for their son, who died while in the care of a rehabilitation facility on the south coast, in KwaZulu-Natal.
Luke Edwards, 32, was reported to have died on April 9 when his body was found allegedly in a property neighbouring Tetelestai Recovery Centre, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Winklespruit.
Edwards’s parents, Luke and Linda, believe that their son may have been killed. They have enlisted the services of private investigator Brad Nathanson.
Edwards’ mother, Linda, said Luke, who had been living in Mexico, returned home in March to complete a book he had started writing.
She said Luke smoked marijuana at night before he went to bed to help him sleep.
“On his return in March, Luke had gone into a bad psychosis and was smoking marijuana during the day. He was almost schizophrenic and was making up weird stories and becoming aggressive. He stayed with family for a few days, which seemed to calm him, but then he smoked marijuana, and the police had to be called because he was acting irrationally and aggressively.”
She said after police released him back into their care, and convinced him to volunteer for rehabilitation, and he was taken to ARCA, a medical detox treatment centre.
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