Picture: SAPS

The swift sharing of information by community members, media houses and social media users has helped police apprehend a 41-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of three people in Moeka Vuma near Makapanstad in the North West.

James Mohajane was the subject of an intensive police manhunt after he was identified as the alleged perpetrator in the deaths of his girlfriend, Moipone Lefoka, her sister Esther Lefoka, and Esther’s boyfriend, Tshepo Molekwa. The three victims were allegedly killed with a spade at a house in Moeka Vuma over the weekend, prompting police to launch a search for Mohajane and appeal to the public for assistance.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) subsequently circulated Mohajane’s photograph and details through media platforms and social media, urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward. According to police, the public appeal produced results in less than 12 hours, demonstrating the role communities can play in assisting law enforcement in serious criminal investigations.

At approximately 09:30 on Thursday morning, members of the Moeka Vuma community handed Mohajane over to police. His apprehension brought the intensive search to an end after residents responded to the public appeal and information about the wanted suspect spread widely through traditional and social media platforms.

Acting National Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, welcomed the development and expressed her appreciation to the community, media houses and social media users who helped circulate the information. She said cooperation between the public and police remains crucial in the fight against serious and violent crime. “Once again, our communities have demonstrated that they are an important partner in the fight against crime. The swift response by the community of Moeka Vuma, together with the assistance of the media and social media users who shared the suspect’s photograph, has contributed significantly to bringing this wanted suspect into police custody. We thank everyone who played a role,” Dimpane said.

Dimpane said the response from residents showed the importance of communities remaining vigilant and working with law enforcement authorities when police appeals are issued. SAPS also acknowledged the role played by those who shared the suspect’s photograph, which helped ensure that information about the manhunt reached a wider audience within a short period.

The latest development comes just a week after community members in Klerksdorp reportedly assisted police in apprehending another wanted man. In that case, the suspect had allegedly been on the run after the killing of his girlfriend in a backroom in Soweto.

Dimpane further commended investigators and police officers who worked on the Moeka Vuma case, praising their efforts to trace the suspect and bring him into police custody. SAPS said the cooperation demonstrated in the case highlights the value of partnerships between police, communities and the media when dealing with serious crimes. Mohajane is now in police custody and is expected to face charges in connection with the deaths of Lefoka, her sister and Molekwa, while investigations into the triple murder continue.