Police two suspects are being sought after a nine-year-old boy was murdered and his mother left for dead in Midrand.
It is understood the mother had just picked up her children from school near the scene of the shooting on Tuesday when two men approached them.
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Gauteng police spokesperson Lt Col Mavela Masondo says the motive for the shooting is unknown and cases of murder and attempted murder have been opened.
“A 41-year-old mother and her nine-year-old son were taken to the medical center with gunshot wounds. The son died from his injuries, the mother is in critical condition. The 13-year-old girl came out safe and sound.”
Masondo urged anyone with information that could assist in the investigation to call the nearest police station.
Skeletal remains were found
In another incident, a 24-year-old man was arrested after human skeletal remains were discovered in bushes at the Nkanini Trust near Masoi outside White River.
According to the report, the children from the initiation school were in the bush collecting firewood when they made the grim discovery.
Upon arriving at the scene, police also found some clothing believed to have belonged to the victim at the time of discovery.
Police spokesperson Brigadier General Selvi Mohlala says preliminary investigations suggest the skeletal remains may be those of a 15-year-old girl who disappeared without a trace.
“The family believes it’s her because they identified the dress they found at the scene.”
“The 24-year-old suspect has since been charged with murder, as well as perverting the course of justice. He is due to appear in the Masoi Periodicals Court on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, before being charged,” Mohlala said.
Mohlala said police cannot rule out the possibility of additional charges against the suspect as the investigation progresses.
Saps Provincial Commissioner in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphne Manamela welcomed the breakthrough made by police officers, but the general strongly condemned acts of violence against defenseless women.
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