Pieterse: Suspect eludes cops
2002-04-09 11:14
Linda de Nysschen
Malelane - The fourth suspect in the Pieter Pieterse murder case has eluded police again by not reporting for work on a farm in the area.
The three other suspects were arrested on Saturday at Tonga and Hectorspruit respectively and indicated in the Circuit Court here they proposed to conduct their own defence.
They are Frans Shabangu (31), Philemon Malinga (21) and Ndukwana Makamo (21). Makamo admitted to being an illegal Mozambican immigrant. Police information indicates that Malinga is also a Mozambican citizen. However, in court he said he was born in Ermelo. So far, however, he has been unable to produce either an ID or a passport as proof.
Shabangu, a South African, is the only one who will be granted permission to apply for bail at their next court appearance in Barberton on April 15.
The men are suspected of overpowering and killing Pieterse in March as he sat and wrote outside his home in Marloth Park. He had 28 stab wounds.
Investigating officer Thinus Rossouw said information indicated that an all-purpose knife was used in the attack.
Rossouw confirmed that police had received information on Monday morning that the fourth suspect, whose name is known to them, was employed on a farm outside Malelane.
He was at work on Friday, but failed to arrive on Monday morning, presumably after getting wind of the police hunt for him.
The police have unsuccessfully searched for him at two other addresses.
Pieterse's wife, Jenny, has not yet identified possessions found with the three men when they were arrested. The motive for the murder appears to be robbery.
Following their court appearance, Shabangu, Malinga and Makamo were taken back to Komatipoort where they are being detained. The three men appeared dirty and bedraggled and Makamo was barefoot in the ankle shackles linking them together.
Have you seen our photo gallery?
- Beeld