The South African Police have apprehended a suspect in connection with the murder and rape of Phuthi Ramara, 21, who was found killed in a playground in Soweto’s Protea Glen Extension 31 earlier this month.
A statement released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) said that a 35-year-old man was on Monday arrested, following a tip-off that led them to Ivory Park Taxi Rank. The South African Police say the suspect was heading to Johannesburg from Tembisa, intending to cross the border to Lesotho.
Sibongile Ramara, the mother of the late victim said she was happy about the arrest made.
“Things have been difficult for me, but I’m really happy that the police were able to find the suspect.
“I wish they could find everyone responsible and justice can prevail for my daughter,” said Ramara”.
She also expressed gratitude to the community for the role played find the suspect.
Allegedly, the suspect was with the late Phuthi and her friends on the night Phuthi’s friend last saw her.
Spokesperson for Police Gauteng Captain Mavela Masondo said: “The suspect has been on the run since the discovery of the naked body of a woman in an open field in the early hours of December 7. He was the last person to be seen with (her).”
Phuthi, who was a Travel and Tourism student at Unisa, was beaten, raped and strangled with her pants.
While taking his morning run, a jogger discovered her body jogger in a playground in Protea Glen Extension 31.
Violent crimes against women has been an issue of concern this year in South Africa. In May, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s condemned the surge in violence against women.
The president’s remarks came after several femicides, including one woman who was eight months pregnant and found stabbed and hanging from a tree.