Five suspects allegedly linked to murder of two women to appear in court

Five suspects are expected to appear in court in connection with the murder of two young women from Poortjie, south of Johannesburg.

The 25-year-olds, Nontokozo Mazibuko and Andiswa Sontangane, were last seen on 30 December last year after they left home in their vehicle.

Police say one of the victims’ mothers received a ransom demand from one of the suspects, resulting in the missing persons investigation changing to a hijacking and kidnapping case.

On 8 January, police discovered the decomposing bodies of the two women in an open veld in Poortjie.

Further investigations led to the arrest of four suspects in Evaton, and the fifth suspect in Germiston

Gauteng police spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi says an unlicensed firearm was recovered during the arrest.

"A preliminary investigation led the team to Brits, where they discovered the victims' vehicle abandoned at a car wash. The vehicle was fixed with false number plates but had the correct disc. The firearm will be subjected to ballistic testing to determine whether it was used in the commission of a crime," she added.