Mpumalanga police have arrested three teenagers aged between 18 and 19 following the gruesome murder of man from Eswatini.
The killing took place in Barberton outside Nelspruit in Mpumalanga in the early hours of Saturday morning.
According to police, the man from the Kingdom of Eswatini was killed after an argument suspected to have been triggered by a quarrel over alcohol.
In a report, Colonel Donald Mdhluli said police and paramedics were summoned to the crime scene at Kamadakwa in Barberton.
Upon arrival, the victim was found laying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds to his upper body.
“He was certified dead. Crucial items such as broken beer bottles with some blood stains on them were collected at the crime scene for further investigation,” said Mdhluli.
“A murder case was opened and police are investigating. The prompt action [by police] resulted in the arrest of three suspects a few hours later.”
During a preliminary investigation, police managed to piece together crucial information about the alleged fight that resulted in murder.
The three male suspects are expected to appear in the Baberton magistrate’s court on Monday on a charge of murder.
“Part of the probe will be to establish the motive behind the killing, as well as to obtain the victim’s age, which is currently unknown,” Mdhluli said.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela commended the officers for their swift arrest of the murder suspects.
Manamela said alcohol consumption is one of the biggest challenges that Mpumalanga police face, saying many crimes are linked to alcohol.
“In our fight against crime, we continue to encounter some challenges which emanate from the consumption of alcohol,” Manamela said.
“We therefore urge members of the public to act responsibly.”
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