Two men accused of murder were this week remanded in custody until their next court appearance on May 9.
The duo appeared in the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court on Tuesday for the gruesome murder of Tshepe James Serobanyane.
The suspects, 35-year-old Lehlohonolo Benjamin May and Tiisetso Meea, 34, allegedly took Serobanyane next to a local cemetery and assaulted him until he took his last breath.
They then drove around in the victim’s car which they later sold and shared the money.
According to preliminary police investigations, Meea is an illegal immigrant who entered the country without proper travel documents.
Lieutenant-Colonel Thabo Covane, spokesperson for police, said Serobanyane was reported missing by his mother at the Bultfontein police station on April 25.
“He was last seen leaving Phahameng location with a male known as Blom [May] and heading for Bloemfontein. The two were driving in Serobanyane’s newly bought white Opel Astra,” said Covane.
Covane detailed the events leading to the murder.
“During the evening of Friday, April 28 2023, the police at Selosesha were called to the open veld near the N8 national road off-ramp to Botshabelo,” said Covane.
“A pharmacy till slip helped the police to link the deceased to the person reported missing in Bultfontein. A team from Selosesha police station immediately departed for Bultfontein where the first suspect, Lehlohonolo Benjamin May, was arrested.”
He said that May led the police to a nightclub in Bloemfontein CBD where Meea was cornered.
“Tiisetso was very cooperative and led the police next to South Park Cemetery, where the two attacked Serobanyane and ended his life.”
Covane detailed the events after the murder.
“After committing the gruesome murder, May and Meea then decided to sell Serobanyane’s newly bought motor vehicle and split the money among themselves.
“The vehicle was recovered by the police at a car dealership in Monument Road already sold to another person.”
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here
