Home News Man arrested after two young city men murdered

Man arrested after two young city men murdered

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The two men were allegedly stabbed by the same person on Sunday.

KIMBERLEY residents are still in shock following the brutal murder of two young men, Bonolo Babuseng, 29, and Teshwell Koopman, 27, who were fatally stabbed, allegedly by the same person, on Sunday.

Babuseng’s body was collected by the police’s forensic division at a soccer field not far from his home, while the lifeless body of Koopman was found in Samora Machel Street, also not far from his home.

A 27-year old-suspect was arrested on Monday morning in Kimberley in connection with both murders.

Both incidents happened in Phutanang, only a few hours apart.

The Kagisho police arrested the suspect on Monday after he went on the run following the second murder.

Confirming the arrest, Northern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Mohale Ramatseba said it was believed that the incidents happened after an argument.

“It is alleged that a 29-year-old man was stabbed in the chest at about 6.30pm on Sunday evening after an argument with the suspect. The deceased was certified dead on the scene by the emergency medical services (EMS) personnel,” said Rametseba on Monday.

“It is further alleged that the suspect, 30 minutes after the first incident, stabbed the second victim in the chest and shoulder, also after an argument. He was also certified dead by EMS personnel,” added Ramatseba.

According to Ramatseba, the suspect is expected to appear in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court soon.

The community breathed a sigh of relief on Monday when the news of the suspect’s arrest became public knowledge.

The murder was a second blow to the Babuseng family, who had buried Bonolo’s grandmother on Saturday, only a day before.

Babuseng’s mother said she was resting at around 5pm when a seven-year-old boy came to tell her that her son was lying on the soccer field with blood on his stomach.

“He was still alive when I arrived and he kept on calling his aunt’s name. He was surrounded by many people and we called the ambulance and the police, who took too long to arrive,” said Babuseng’s mother on Monday.

She said she called relatives, who were still busy cleaning up after Saturday’s funeral. By the time the family arrived, however, her son had already succumbed to his stab wound.

The mother indicated that the paramedics declared him dead on the scene when they arrived.

Police and army personnel had their hands full in clearing the crowd at the murder scene.

“The last time I saw him, he was frying chips for himself and asked me to check on them while he went to the nearby tuck shop,” said Babuseng’s mother.

The Babuseng family said the motive for his murder was still unclear.

The family has requested anyone with information that can help the police solve the murder case to contact them.

Babuseng was described as a peace-loving person, who would never provoke anyone. According to the family, they were usually the ones who told him to fight back when attacked.

Koopman’s family were also still grieving their loss on Monday after they had witnessed the body of their loved one lying in the street not far from their home on Sunday evening.

Koopman’s uncle, Ivan Kenneth, could at this stage also not say what had motivated the stabbing.

It is believed that the suspect met Koopman and his two friends on their way home from his girlfriend. 

“I was woken by a neighbour at around 8pm who told me that Teshwell was stabbed and lying on the ground. Upon arrival at the scene we found his lifeless body. He was lying on his stomach and there were a few people around him,” said Kenneth on Monday.

“We called the police and paramedics, who seemed to respond unusually fast. We only learned afterwards that the same team that attended to our call had attended to the earlier murder scene just a few metres away,” added Kenneth. 

According to the family, Koopman was adopted after his parents and only sister died years ago.

His aunt, Yolandi Koopman, indicated that life will never be the same in her home without him.

“It has not sunk in yet. We only used to feel safe when he was at home because this is a very rough neighbourhood that we stay in,” said Yolandi.

The community on Monday welcomed the arrest by the police, many indicating that they were afraid of the suspect.

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