The recent killings in the Free State town of Botshabelo have left the community questioning the swift response of the police and wondering whether a serial killer or serial killing syndicate is on the loose.
The Botshabelo police were called to a murder scene at a stream, where two people came across a body of an unknown male between 45 to 50 years of age floating in the water last month.
It is alleged that the tip-off occurred when blood stains were found at another scene at a different spot than that at the stream.
Police divers retrieved the corpse from the water. The corpse had multiple stab wounds and small bags of sand wrapped around his hands.
On 1 February 2024, a missing person, namely Lebohang Julia Khutsoane (52), was found near the Sepone River, only a few meters from where the male corpse was discovered. Her body was decapitated and her hands were also tied. This convinced some that these deaths could have a possible link.
Police confirmed that, while searching the area for the missing body part, another decomposed body was discovered with a similar modus operandi, about 50 meters from the first scene. A fourth male body was also found and must still be identified.
Brigadier Motantsi Makhele confirmed that all four bodies – two females and two males – had multiple stab wounds and were all found not far from each other at the stream and it was also discovered that the suspect/s used stones from the railway tracks.
The Police Commissioner, Baile Motswenyane, is convinced that the river is the secondary crime scene and that the primary scene is possibly where the head of Khutsoane will be found.
Motswenyane also confirmed that a syndicate might be possible. “If we look at the physique of some of the deceased, more than one suspect may be involved,” said the commissioner.
A helicopter pilot for the police, Lt Col Kgothatso Khunou, also confirmed that there have been no sightings from an aerial perspective but she will continue looking out from above. Three bodies have been identified by family members, including the decapitated body.
Abigail Visagie
