Man Arrested For Kidnapping, Murdering And Dumping Bodies Of Woman And Teen In Suitcase

On October 6, 2020 police in KwaDabeka, South Africa discovered the bodies of a woman and a teenage girl stuffed inside a suitcase. The two bodies had multiple wounds and their necks were tied with a rope. Since the harrowing discovery, an investigation was launched to find those responsible for the murder of the two victims.

Soon after the discovery of the bodies, the victims were identified as 36-year-old Simangele Simamane and 13-year-old Sbongakonke Mthembu. The police established that the victims were related and that the older victim was the teenager’s mother.

Police spokesperson, Thembeka Mbele, revealed the extent of the injuries the victims had suffered.

The mother had deep, open wounds on the back of her head. She also had bruises and injuries to her face and neck. On her left leg and body, burns were also observed. The teenager had a stab wound to her hip and bruises on her neck, the Times Live reported. Police believed that the victims had been kidnapped before their gruesome deaths. It is not known if they were sexually assaulted as well.

Following their deaths, the duo was put inside a suitcase and dumped near the Umgeni River river in Kwadabeka, to the west of Durban. The police named a 41-year-old man Sthembiso Lamula as the suspect for the kidnapping and murder. He was reportedly on the run after he absconded from his home in KwaMashu.

Around seven months after the victims were found, the suspect reportedly was seen back in his hometown. Officers of the Provincial Tracking Team and the Crime Intelligence Police had been trying to get information on the suspect’s whereabouts. Police raided a home where the suspect was believed to have been staying and was able to arrest him on Wednesday, April 7, IOL reported.

Charged with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of murder, the man was brought to Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Friday, April 9. The court ordered him to remain in police custody till his next hearing on Friday, April 16. It is unclear if the victims were known to the suspect or what could be his motive.

As police continue to investigate the incident more arrests could take place, Mbele indicated.