Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - It is said that greed and family feuds have contributed to the gruesome plot to wipe out almost the entire Maponyane family.
A murder for hire conspiracy was unravelled by police detectives with the arrest of five men linked to the murders of Johannes Maponyane (74) in September last year, his son, Peter (34) in January and daughter, Elissa (44) last week. Klerksdorp Record was told confidentially that it is suspected that the mastermind behind the plot is another of the murdered patriarch’s children who is currently in custody on several murder charges.
The late Peter was a well-known businessman in Klerksdorp and owner of Samambu Funeral Parlour. He was shot and killed inside his car while parked outside his business. His father was gunned down a few months earlier in Mohadin, Potchefstroom. It was also bullets that claimed the life of Elissa at her place in Ikageng on Thursday May 23.
According to Col Adéle Myburgh, police spokesperson, information received after the murder led a team of Ikageng Detectives, the provincial drug task team and Fochville police officers to Kokosi, near Fochville where five suspects were arrested. During the arrest, the police confiscated a Volkswagen Jetta vehicle, two firearms and ammunition alleged to have been used during the commission of the crime.
“Police investigations into the matter continue and link to other crimes cannot be ruled out,’’ she said.
The accused, Mpho Gift Visagie (19), Tebogo Lipholo (32), Phoka Raphoka (36), Mpho Thorn Bennet Lombard (32) and John Ramasubela Mohahabe (48) appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court on May 27. The case was postponed to Tuesday June 4. They remain in custody.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena applauded the police units involved for working around the clock to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book to face the full might of the law.
