A man believed to be responsible for the murder of 23-year-old Boitumelo Gift Mashita in Tembisa on Monday morning has been found dead inside his vehicle in Midrand.
The man, who was Mashita’s estranged husband, had been identified as a person of interest in the murder and was being tracked by the SAPS Tembisa Tracking Team.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the investigating team had linked him to Mashita’s death.
Woman shot dead on her way to work
Mashita was shot and killed at about 5.45am on Monday, September 28, in Temong, Mapungubwe Street, Tembisa.
According to Muridili, she was on her way to work when she was allegedly shot during a robbery. Her belongings were taken during the incident.
Police initially opened murder and robbery cases and said no arrests had been made while investigators followed up on leads.
Estranged husband found dead
The investigation subsequently took a new turn when police were informed by Midrand police that the vehicle belonging to Mashita’s estranged husband had been located within the Midrand policing precinct.
His body was found inside the vehicle.
Police said it was believed that the man may have ingested an unknown substance. At this stage, there was no indication of foul play in his death.
Muridili said a post-mortem examination will be conducted to establish the exact cause of his death.
Midrand police will register an inquest case as part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
No confirmed link to other Ekurhuleni cases
Police said preliminary investigations had not established any link between Mashita’s murder and recent cases involving the bodies of women found in Ekurhuleni.
Police urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact their nearest police station, Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or submit information through the MySAPS App.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
IOL News
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.
