Police Manhunt Launched After Two Women Found Murdered in Theunissen
Authorities investigate separate killings of two women discovered in abandoned buildings over the weekend.
1Discovery of Two Victims
South African Police Service officials in the Free State have launched a manhunt following the discovery of two women in Theunissen. The victims were found in separate abandoned buildings over the weekend. Lieutenant-Colonel Thabo Covane confirmed that investigations are currently underway to identify the suspects responsible for these brutal acts.
2First Victim Identified
The first victim, 32-year-old Nthabiseng Moiloa, was discovered on Saturday at a site on Le Roux Street. A neighbourhood watch member alerted authorities to the abandoned building. Emergency personnel declared her dead at the scene, noting multiple stab wounds and severe injuries to her head and stomach area.
3Second Victim Found
On Sunday, children playing near a day care centre in Masilo discovered the second victim, 25-year-old Kedibone Hlabahlaba. Her body was found inside a toilet within an abandoned building. Police reported that the victim was half-naked and had sustained serious head injuries, with the body already in a decomposed state.
4Investigation and Task Team
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thabang Solomon Lesia has established a multidisciplinary task team to handle the case. This unit is led by the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit. Authorities are currently working to determine if the two murders are linked, though the motive for both remains entirely unclear.
5Potential Sexual Assault
Police are not ruling out the possibility that the first victim, Nthabiseng Moiloa, was sexually assaulted during the attack. Both women were found in a half-naked state, which has prompted investigators to include sexual violence as a line of inquiry. Forensic evidence is being processed to confirm these specific details.
6Conflicting Age Reports
While initial reports identified the first victim as 32 years old, subsequent information provided by police spokesperson Thabo Covane suggested she may have been 35. These discrepancies highlight the ongoing nature of the investigation as police work to verify victim identities and gather concrete evidence from the two separate scenes.
716 Days of Activism
These murders occurred just as the Free State police prepare to launch the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in the Lejeweleputswa District. The timing of these crimes has intensified the police commitment to apprehending the perpetrators and addressing the rising concerns regarding violence against women locally.
8Call for Public Assistance
The SAPS has urged anyone with information to contact Task Team Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Jame Mahlatsi at 073 463 8990 or the Crime Stop line at 08600 10111. Anonymous tips can also be submitted via the MySAPS App. All information provided to these channels will be treated with strict confidentiality by investigators.
Original article: IOL News — Police Manhunt Launched After Two Women Found Murdered in Theunissen