BRITS POS – LETLHABILE - A minor, who was apprehended for the alleged murder of Charles Junior Tshabalala (28), appeared before the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 17 July 2025.
His appearance stems from his arrest on Tuesday, 15 July. It is alleged that on Sunday, 13 July 2025 at about 04:00, police in Letlhabile were called to a local clinic and upon arrival, found a man who was certified dead with a stab wound to his upper body. As a result, a case of murder was registered.
Preliminary investigation revealed that earlier that morning, the suspect allegedly stabbed the deceased, thereafter, attacking and stabbing another man in Maboloka, Sasol Section on a public road. The victim was on his way home with his girlfriend and two other males, travelling in a vehicle, when they stopped after seeing the suspect dragging a woman known to them. The victim’s girlfriend alighted from the vehicle to try and help that woman and in the process, the suspect slapped her. The boyfriend then tried to intervene and he was attacked and stabbed with a sharp object on his neck by the suspect.
Information about the suspect was received and operationalised and thorough investigation by Letlhabile Detectives and Tracing Team lead to the arrest of the suspect, a 17-year-old minor at Letlhakaneng village. During the arrest, the murder weapon was also recovered and confiscated.
The 17-year-old minor is detained at a Juvenile Centre and is expected to re-appear before the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 29 July 2025 for legal aid. He will also be processed in terms of the Child Justice Act.
“The arrest of the teenager who is not attending school and being taken care of by his grandmother, is a manifestation of the endemic wickedness and the society’s indifference to the maladies that are endemic in the communities, often ending in calamities such as murder, rape and drug addiction by the youth,” says the Acting Provincial Police Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng.
“It is worrisome that a 17-year-old was frequenting and already drinking liquor at a licensed tavern and surely neighbours, including the 29-year-old woman, who was rescued from him and others knew and were aware of his defiant behaviour which unfortunately has ended in the tragic loss of life.”
