25 Jan 2023

Molepolole police have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with the murder of a taximan at the village's Borakalalo ward on Tuesday night.

In an interview, Molepolole station commander, Senior Superintendent Benedict Matlho said the incident occurred in the evening after seven, following a report of a burning house, belonging to a businessman at Borakalalo ward.

He said after the police and fire brigade successfully extinguished the fire, which had no occupants at the time, they (police) went back to the office, but while the fire team was busy putting away their equipment preparing to leave the scene, a taxi arrived and a passenger identified as a local Indian and also related to the owner of the house, got out and asked the fire men what happened.

Snr Supt Matlho went on to state that fire people reportedly told the suspect that they had come to put off the fire, but they were done and preparing to leave.

Molepolple police chief said it was alleged that the fire brigade then, within a short space of time, reportedly saw the suspect shooting a taxi driver and fled with the same taxi. Upon receiving the report, the police rushed to the scene and took the victim to Scotish Livingston Hospital, where the victim was certified dead upon arrival.

After a police search was launched to hunt for the suspect, Snr Supt Matlho said police discovered the said taxi near Legaga-la-ga-Kobokwe, just outside the village, burnt to ashes at around 10pm, the same night.

The suspect was later arrested a few kilometres away, near Molepolole Poultry premises.

The suspect is still under police custody while investigations into the matter continue. Ends