Lentswe, Potchefstroom - Good detective work linked a trial awaiting prisoner to the murder for hire plot to kill his father and sister while being incarcerated. Kevin Alister Maponyane (34) was charged with the murders of his family members. He appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrates Court on October 28 and the case was postponed to November 11.
His father, Johannes Maponyane and his sister, Elissa Nicolene Maponyane, were killed in September 2023 and May 2024, in Ikageng. Maponyane senior was the owner of Samambu Funeral Parlour.
After Elissa’s murder, five suspects were arrested. Report suggested that Kevin hired Mpho Gift Visagie (20), Thebogo Lipholo (33), Phoka Raphoka (37), Mpho Bennet Lombard (33) and John Ramasubela Mohahabe (49) to execute the murders of his sister and father.
In addition to the two murders, Kevin is currently on trial in Klerksdorp High Court, for two more separate murders committed in September 2018 and February 2019.
He is also facing four charges of possession of unlicenced firearm and ammunition. Out of the four cases, two were registered in Ikageng in September 2018 and September 2020 respectively, while the other two were reported in Potchefstroom in March and May 2019.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo lauded the detectives for working tirelessly to bring the accused to book and linking him with all these cases to ensure that justice is served.
