3 in custody for German tourist murder

THREE Zimbabwean nationals, Jan Thabonga Moshabi (36) Abstein Madzvimbo (22) and Thomas Moyo (39), were remanded in custody when they appeared before the Northam Magistrate’s Court yesterday on allegations of killing a German tourist.

The trio allegedly assaulted, robbed and killed 74-year-old German tourist, Herman Gunter Friedrich Westphal at Northam, in Limpopo province, South Africa.

Moshabi, Madzvimbo and Moyo also face an additional charge of contravening the Immigration Act, according to Limpopo spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.

“The deceased was on a tour from Botswana on Friday (February 23) and drove into South Africa in a Toyota sedan motor vehicle and arrived at Lephalale in Waterberg district on Saturday morning,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.

Along the way, Westphal offered an unknown male hitchhiker a lift and as the two travelled, the tourist requested help in securing accommodation around North West province, where he wanted to settle briefly before he resumed his tour across South Africa.

On arrival at the said accommodation, in Moruleng, the NPA said the hitchhiker suggested they go to a liquor outlet, where they had a few drinks.

“That’s when the suspect informed his two friends about (Westphal). The accused and his two accomplices drove with the unsuspecting victim to Moshabi’s place. Upon arrival, they tied him up and assaulted him while demanding his bank account pin code,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.

They also searched the tourist and took an undisclosed amount of money, among other valuables.

“The three suspects removed the vehicle’s number plates and drove with the victim while assaulting him to Northam, using a gravel road. When they reached a certain farm, the suspects dragged the victim from the vehicle and dumped him in the bushes,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.

During the night, security officials noticed the “suspicious” vehicle, without number plates, parked on the farm.

The security officers stopped to investigate and that is when they noticed Moshabi’s bloodstained T-shirt. Police were immediately notified. Moshabi was then arrested at the scene before police discovered Westphal’s body in the nearby bushes.

Two other suspects were arrested in North West province later that evening.

They were allegedly found in possession of some of the deceased tourist’s belongings.

The case against Moshabi, Madzvimbo and Moyo was postponed to March 13 for bail applications. The trio will remain in custody.

The three are being represented by Legal Aid lawyers.

Provisional commissioner of police in Limpopo province, Lieutenant, General Thembi Hadebr commended police for the swift arrest of the suspected trio. —