A 35-year-old businessman from Plumtree, Cabangane Mathe, has been brought before the Plumtree Magistrates’ Court facing serious charges after he allegedly murdered a rape victim in an attempt to hide the initial offence.
Mathe appeared before Magistrate Mark Dzira and was remanded in custody until April 16. He did not enter a plea and was instructed to make a formal bail application at the High Court. The court also directed that Mathe undergo evaluation under the Mental Health Act.
According to the state’s case, the events unfolded on March 22. It is alleged that Mathe raped a woman and later offered her a job as a shop assistant possibly as a tactic to manipulate or pacify her.
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Following the incident, police officer Thembani Mukanyani reportedly took the victim to ZRP Plumtree, stating it was for her protection. However, it is alleged that the officer and Mathe later conspired to eliminate the woman to prevent the rape from being reported.
Investigators claim that Mukanyani removed the woman from the safe safehouse around 8:00 PM the same day, handing her back to Mathe. The businessman then allegedly smuggled her across the border into Botswana via an illegal crossing point.
Once there, Mathe is accused of killing the woman by striking her multiple times on the head with a sharp object. Her body was discovered on March 27, already in a state of advanced decomposition. Authorities have confirmed that the body remains in Botswana as investigations continue.
The case has shocked the Plumtree community, and both suspects face potential charges in connection with rape, conspiracy, and murder.
