The family and close friends of Junior Netsai Shonhai again said they wanted to get justice after her ex-boyfriend was arrested in connection with her murder.
The Star last week reported that Shonhai, 25, was reported missing, and on July 24, published an article confirming that her lifeless body was found dumped at City Deep in Johannesburg in the Cleveland policing precinct.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed the breakthrough with regard to the arrest.
“Police can confirm that a male aged 32 handed himself over to the police on Monday, July 29. He was arrested and charged with murder. He appeared at Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Information received is that the suspect was the boyfriend of the deceased,” Masondo said.
The suspect is expected to appear again in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court for a bail application soon.
Shonhai’s closest friend (name withheld for his safety) said the man arrested in connection was her ex-boyfriend, and not her boyfriend as police reported.
According to the friends, the suspect confessed to the crime. However, that will be subject to the court case.
The friend said Shonhai had not been buried yet as her loved ones were still gathering funds.
He said she would be buried tomorrow.
“We intend to attend the court case and closely monitor whether or not he will be granted bail. We are still mourning her loss. We cannot say we are relieved with regard to the arrest, it is too early. We are mourning our friend. Let us watch and see, we will be able to talk well on Monday,” said the friend.
Shonhai went missing on July 17 after disappearing from her residence in Rosettenville, south of Johannesburg.
On the day of her disappearance, her friend said she spent the day with one of her friends at a nearby hair salon, who later dropped her off at her place.
Moments before disappearing, she was on a call with her current boyfriend, who is based in Western Cape.
Shonhai was described as a hard-working, kind, caring, ever smiling, bubbly person. She was one of many individuals who went missing tp be found dead.
Earlier last month, IOL News reported that two people were arrested in connection with the kidnapping and brutal murder of Kungawo Nyhweba, 19, from Eastern Cape.
She was reported missing on July 7, police said.
“Preliminary investigation by police led to the recovery of her body on Wednesday (July 10) in an open space at the Ebakhwetheni area in Joza township, Makhanda,” said provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa.
Mawisa said according to information, four suspects were allegedly involved in kidnapping and murdering Nyhweba.
“Two of the suspects were arrested at the golf course in Alice.”
She said police were still looking for her ex-boyfriend and his friend.
In both the cases, ex-boyfriends were fingered for alleged murders.
Police have warned loved ones to report suspected missing family members immediately and not wait.
The Star