SA Shaken by Murder of Centurion Couple by Man Allegedly Pretending To Be Home Buyer

• A couple from Lyttleton Manor in Centurion was killed by a man allegedly posing as a prospective home buyer
• The couple put their home up for sale on the market and the man met them at their home, allegedly with the intent to rob them
• He reportedly fatally stabbed them and was arrested, and South Africans were horrified by the events

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered criminal activities, police investigations, police shootouts and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

CENTURION, TSHWANE — South Africans were shaken by the murder of a couple from Centurion in Tshwane at the hands of a man who allegedly pretended to be interested in buying their home.

What happened?

According to the South African Police Service, the couple, from Lyttleton, put their house on the market and the suspect arranged to meet them to discuss possibly purchasing the house. The suspect was reportedly planning on robbing them. Once they were in the house, he attacked them. He stabbed them fatally and proceeded to rob them before fleeing the scene. They died on the scene.

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Modus operandi?

The police believe that the suspect's modus operandi involves contacting homeowners who are selling their homes and contacting them, pretending to be a home buyer before robbing them. It is not clear how many similar incidents he committed. He was arrested on 28 January 2025 and the police found a firearm, bloodstained clothing and items he allegedly stole from the crime scene. He's expected to appear in court soon.

Similar violent robberies

• One person was killed and six were injured during a cash-in-transit robbery in New Germany, KwaZulu-Natal in December 2024
• A little child was shot and killed during a robbery at a McDonald's in Edenvale on 5 January
• A police officer who was shot and killed while responding to a robbery on 4 January was laid to rest in Qwa Qwa, Free State on 19 January

South Africans broken

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Netizens on Facebook were shaken by the horrific murder.

Shatudi Chuene asked:

"What has our country turned into? How twisted can a person get to sit down and plan to kill an innocent person who did nothing wrong to him?"

Malefane Salela said:

"People we live with are cruel."

Brian Bruno Mabele said:

"May their souls rest in peace. Crime in this country is getting out of hand."

Madadze T Netshiavha said:

"Prospective buyers must come to view the property together with the agent."

Tebogo Motana said:

"As long as the country despises the word of God, we will suffer because of corrupt leaders."

E-hailing driver shoots robber dead

In a related article, Briefly News reported that an e-hailing driver shot and killed a man during a robbery early in January in the Western Cape. The driver was transporting clients on New Year's when he suddenly robbed.

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The would-be robbers reportedly tried to rob him with a gun when he retaliated and shot one of his attackers. The attacker was rushed to hospital where he was later declared dead. The other suspect was treated for his wounds.

Source: Briefly News