Five arrested for prince’s murder
Gauteng police team’s hard work pays off
FIVE suspects – four women aged between 27 and 42, and a 32-year-old man – have been arrested in Pretoria for the murder of 50-year-old Prince Lethukuthula Zulu, who was killed in Gauteng earlier this month.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said the five suspects were arrested on Friday night.
“This arrest comes as a result of meticulous investigation and hard work by the provincial investigating team who, since the reporting of the incident at Honeydew SAPS about two weeks ago, were able to piece together bits and pieces of information that saw the initial inquest docket being changed to a murder case,” said Peters.
“Critical evidence that could easily have been overlooked was effectively lifted from the crime scene by SAPS forensic science experts. The processed evidence helped the investigating team in establishing a possible link of the suspects to the crime.”
The prince was the eldest son of King Goodwill Zwelithini and Queen Sibongile MaDlamini.
He was found dead at his home in Northwold in Johannesburg on November 6.
Peters said the suspects were in possession of several goods stolen from the slain prince.
“During the arrest, one of the suspects was found in possession of different substances. These were seized for further investigation against the possibility of the deceased and his business partner having been drugged before cash and other valuables were stolen from the place. Several suspected stolen items were seized at the residences of the suspects.”
She said the investigation was continuing,
as police hoped to uncover more evidence for building “a solid case that can stand up in court”.
“The investigation might also help in establishing whether the suspects might have committed similar crimes previously in which victims were drugged and robbed. At this point the suspects are facing a charge of murder and theft,” said Peters.
The suspects were expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court today.
Police initially opened an inquest docket when Zulu’s body was found by security guards in his home in the Graceland residential complex in Northwold.
Zulu’s business partner was apparently found sleeping in another bedroom in the house when the guards discovered the body.
The police investigation later became a murder case after detectives became aware that money and valuables had been stolen from the apartment in Northwold.