North West Man Caught After Manhunt Over Allegedly Killing 3 People With An Axe

• James Mohajane, 41, was wanted in connection with the deaths of three people allegedly hacked with a spade near Makapanstad
• SAPS circulated Mohajane's photograph publicly after launching a manhunt following the brutal weekend killings in Moeka Vuma
• Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane praised the community, media and social media users for their role

NORTH WEST — A 41-year-old man wanted in connection with three murders has been taken into custody after residents of Moeka Vuma handed him over to police on Thursday morning, less than 12 hours after SAPS issued a public alert.

James Mohajane is accused of killing his girlfriend, Moipone Lefoka, her sister Esther Lefoka, and Esther's boyfriend, Tshepo Molekwa. The three were allegedly hacked to death with a spade at a residence in Moeka Vuma, near Makapanstad, over the weekend.

Community tips off police within hours

Following the killings, SAPS launched a manhunt and circulated Mohajane's photograph to media outlets and the public, calling for assistance in locating him. Community members, media houses and social media users responded swiftly, helping investigators narrow down his whereabouts.

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At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, residents physically handed Mohajane over to police, bringing the intensive search to a close.

Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane acknowledged the speed of the community's response, crediting their cooperation as central to the arrest. She also commended the investigators and police members who led the manhunt.

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Dimpane calls community participation critical

Dimpane stressed that public involvement remains essential in the fight against serious and violent crime, saying that the Moeka Vuma arrest demonstrated what coordinated community action can achieve.

The arrest follows a comparable incident from the previous week in Klerksdorp, where community members again assisted police in apprehending a wanted suspect accused of killing his girlfriend in a backroom in Soweto.

Police launch manhunt for Limpopo

Briefly News also reported that the South African Police Service was searching for a 27-year-old man suspected of murdering his live-in girlfriend in Orlando East, Soweto, as part of a broader crackdown on gender-based violence during Women's Month. According to SAPS, Simiso Silomo Phakathi is wanted in connection with the death of 37-year-old Jabulisile Josephina Tshabalala. She was last seen alive on 7 August 2026. Six days later, on 13 August 2026, her body was found inside the backroom they shared, stabbed to death and concealed beneath blankets and clothing.

Source: Briefly News