Murder Suspect Takes Own Life in Police Cell: Community Demands Answers

 Shocking news, a 27-year-old murder suspect, Richard Azwindini Mamali, has reportedly taken his own life while in police custody at Thohoyandou Police Station on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

Authorities made the grim discovery around 5 a.m. when they found Mamali hanging in his cell. This tragic incident follows Mamali’s recent appearance before Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court, where he was facing two counts of murder.

Mamali’s alleged involvement in a series of crimes dates back to September 3, 2023, when he is accused of fatally stabbing his 19-year-old girlfriend, Ridodzula Mudzanani, in Ha-Magidi village. The victim, originally from Mbaleni village, reportedly had two children with Mamali.

What’s even more disturbing is the suspicion that Mamali may have been connected to another brutal murder in the same area just a week later. Initially, the victim’s ID was found near the crime scene, leading authorities to believe that Mamali had met a similar fate. However, further investigation revealed that the body discovered was not his, and his ID had been planted near the scene, casting doubt on the case.

A manhunt for Mamali ensued, culminating in his arrest on September 19, 2023, in Mahwelereng, Mokopane, located in the Waterberg District.

Limpopo’s Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mamali’s suicide. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has also joined the effort to dig deeper into this unsettling series of events that occurred at Thohoyandou Police Station.

This tragic incident has raised serious concerns about the safety and supervision of detainees in police custody. The community eagerly awaits the results of these investigations, hoping they will shed light on the events leading to the untimely death of Richard Azwindini Mamali.