Inobubele Mhlanga’s ‘killers’ arrested

TWO men who fatally stabbed a 23-year-old female Bulawayo Polytechnic student in a violent mugging just a few metres from her home on Monday evening have been apprehended by police. Thamsanqa Ndebele (26) and Euton Sebatha (36) from Cowdray Park, were arrested after being implicated in other robbery crimes in the suburb.

Bulawayo Police Spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube stated that they are the prime suspects in the murder of the late Inobubele Mhlanga. On November 5, during their investigations, police rounded up all known robbery suspects, including one Playmore Mpofu, who was detained for another robbery case. During interrogation, Mpofu implicated Ndebele and Sebatha, alleging they committed crimes together in the suburb.

“A follow-up, with the help of members of the public, led to the arrest of the duo in the Cowdray Park area. Ndebele was interviewed and admitted to attacking the deceased at the TM turnoff, Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, and taking her handbag containing cash amounting to US$30 with the help of Sebatha.

“On 4 November 2024, at around 20:30 hours, the deceased was found by a passer-by lying in a pool of blood near the TM turn-off bus stop, Cowdray Park, Bulawayo. She had a penetrative wound above the right breast and several cuts on both hands. The deceased was ferried to Mpilo Hospital by a well-wisher but passed away while being attended to by a doctor,” Inspector Ncube said.

Mhlanga’s body was conveyed to Mpilo Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.

Inspector Ncube further stated that Sebatha stabbed the deceased because she had identified him, as they resided in the same area and knew each other. The knife used to stab Mhlanga was recovered and stored as an exhibit.

“Police appreciate the active participation of the community in aiding investigations. An innocent life was lost due to sheer greed from people who knew the deceased. Members of the public are urged to revive the neighbourhood watch committees not only for patrol purposes but also to foster unity, peace, and love among themselves. The arrest of the two may assist relatives in finding closure,” Inspector Ncube said.

The late Mhlanga was a fashion and design student at Bulawayo Polytechnic and was attacked a short distance from her home after disembarking from a commuter omnibus. Her family said they were alerted by concerned community members who had summoned an ambulance to the scene of the attack after she was found lying in a pool of blood, according to her grieving father, Geshon Mhlanga.

The attacker, according to reports, did not take all belongings from the deceased as her valuables were found at the scene of the crime. The family was told that a passing motorist saw the attack as it unfolded and tried chasing after a man who disappeared into the night. The scene of the attack is just a few metres from the main road used by motorists driving in and out of the suburb.

“Her laptop, cellphone, and handbag were found where she was stabbed. Her shoes were also found in the same area and were brought here by community members this morning (yesterday morning).

It’s the third time that someone has been attacked with a knife in this part of Cowdray Park and unfortunately we have lost our child. My appeal is for anyone with information about the person who did this to my child to give that information to the police,” said Mhlanga.

The deceased’s uncle, Sikhathele Mhlanga, urged the community to rally together to eradicate crime before more lives are lost. A neighbourhood watch committee team that used to patrol the section of Cowdray Park where the attack occurred stopped working over a month ago due to non-payment of their incentives by some community members, said residents’ association chairman Chipa Nechironga.

Each committee member is given US$100 from funds that are supposed to be collected from each household. He said the residents’ association will call for another meeting to revive the neighbourhood watch committee.