Police are investigating the murder of a 24-year-old Free State student who was killed while travelling with her boyfriend to attend her cousin's funeral.
Nnini Pule, 24, a second-year financial accounting student at Central University of Technology, Welkom Campus, was traveling to Hennenman to attend a funeral with her boyfriend, Bushy Malefetsane, and her four-year-old son when the couple was allegedly hijacked by two men on Thursday.
Her mutilated body was found in the hijacked vehicle near the N1, along the road between Winburg and Theunissen.
Brig Motantsi Makhele said they were investigating a case of murder and that no arrests had been made as yet.
In a statement made to police, Malefetsane said the couple was accosted by two men in a VW Polo after he stopped to take a call on Bulfontein Road.
“Two African males allegedly climbed out with one going to the passenger holding a gun while one was approaching him. He pistol-whipped him on the forehead, while the other assailant threw the deceased in the back passenger seat,” said Makhele.
According to the statement Malefetsane has given to the police, he said he tried to open the driver's door to escape, but this agitated the hijackers who then forced him to drive towards Winburg. He said they demanded cash and he gave them R1,500 but they demanded more.
“He requested to do cellphone transfers but they refused. They stopped the vehicle and ordered him to wait there [on the side of the road] as they were going to Winburg to withdraw money with his girlfriend. They said they will return but he said they must take him with them but they refused. He was pushed [out of the vehicle] and that is when he grabbed the child, jumped to the side of the road and ran away. That's when they drove off with Nnini,” Makhele said.
He said Winburg police received information about a wanted maroon Chrysler Voyager on the same day.
“At about 1pm, officers discovered a motor vehicle fitting the description of the wanted Chrysler. It was found parked in Winburg near a BP petrol station. On arrival, further investigation revealed that an African woman was found inside. She was at the back seat of the vehicle lying with a wound in her throat and not moving. She was declared dead on the scene. A case of murder was opened for further investigation,” said Makhele.
Sowetan attempted to reach Malefetsane but his phone was off. He was sent text messages but he had not responded at the time of going to print.
Pule's cousin Keke Mokena told Sowetan the family was struggling to piece together the puzzle of how the hijacking and kidnapping unfolded.
Mokena said they were further perplexed by the hijackers’ demand to have Pule accompany them and leave behind her son when the perpetrators robbed the couple.
“All we want are answers”.
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