A 19-year-old suspect wanted for the murder of 21-year-old Khanya Mthembu, was arrested in Richards Bay after a tactical operation by police on Wednesday night, 11 September 2024.
Sting operation ends in arrest of Richards Bay teen wanted for murder
In a statement, KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda revealed that the teenager allegedly stabbed Mthembu to death in the Mzingazi area on Sunday, 8 September 2024, following an altercation at a local tavern.
Richards Bay Crime Prevention officers, acting on intelligence, located the suspect hitchhiking in the Madlankala area in Esikhaleni.
The suspect was attempting to escape to Nongoma, an interior settlement situated 300km north of Durban, where he intended to hide.
In a clever move, an officer in an unmarked police vehicle posed as a driver and offered the suspect a ride.
After pulling over at a filling station, the officer called for backup, leading to the suspect’s swift arrest.
According to police reports, the altercation between the suspect and the victim took place at the tavern.
After leaving, Mthembu was followed by the suspect, who then allegedly stabbed him near a sports field, resulting in his death.
The teen is expected to appear in the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 13 September 2024, to face charges of murder.
