Two arrested for murder of U’hage man, 80, ‘known to police’
TWO men, aged 25 and 31, were arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of an elderly Uitenhage man last week.
Mathys “Oom Thys” Human was found dead in the passage of his Cathcart Street home on Saturday morning.
It is believed the 80-year-old, who lived by himself, died after being hit on the head during a struggle with robbers.
The time of death has not yet been confirmed but police suspect he died between Tuesday last week, when he was last seen, and 10am on Saturday when his body was found.
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Gerda Swart said yesterday detectives received information on Wednesday that the suspects lived in KwaNobuhle.
“The team followed up on the information and found both suspects at their homes. They did not try to run or evade arrest when the police raided their homes.”
Swart said several items, be- lieved to have been stolen from Human’s home, were recovered.
“These two men are known to the detectives and have been arrested for petty crimes before,” Swart said. “The detective team will look into linking these two suspects to other crimes committed in and around the area as well.”
An officer linked to the investigation said one of the men was out on bail for an attempted burglary in the Uitenhage area.
The men will appear in the Uitenhage Magistrate’s Court today on charges of robbery and murder.