By Staff Reporter
Police are following a lead in the murder of 14-year-old twin brothers who were stabbed to death in their Mamelodi West home, with investigators saying there were no apparent signs of forced entry.
The boys, identified in media reports as Bonolo and Bothlale Makena, were found with multiple stab wounds in a bedroom on Friday, 2 October, after their mother returned home from work.
No arrests had been announced by Sunday morning and police have not disclosed a possible motive.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said investigators had received information that they were pursuing, but could not disclose details because this could compromise the investigation.
“We hope the information will lead us somewhere, and it will also assist us in correcting and unravelling the circumstances that led to this gruesome incident,” Nevhuhulwi said.
Police have also said there were no indications of forced entry into the house, adding another focus to the investigation into how the killer or killers gained access to the property.
The South African Police Service initially confirmed on Saturday that officers had been called to the Mamelodi West house on Friday and were shown the bodies of the twins inside a bedroom.
Both had sustained multiple stab wounds.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident is unknown at this stage and no one has been arrested. Police investigations are underway,” SAPS said in its initial statement.
The boys’ mother has since told Daily Sun that she encountered blood in the kitchen when she arrived home and believed her sons may have been attacked there before their bodies were moved to the bedroom. Police have not publicly confirmed this account.
The twins have been described by their church as kind children who enjoyed attending church and were not involved in criminal activity. Ethiopian Catholic Church Bishop Mashilo Mangena told SABC News that the boys regularly attended church.
Government has condemned the killings and appealed to residents who may have information to approach police.
Deputy government spokesperson William Baloyi urged people who saw, heard or noticed anything unusual around the time of the murders to provide the information directly to SAPS. Government has also cautioned against circulating unverified claims about the case on social media.
Civil society organisation Not In My Name International has also become involved, saying it has been supporting the family since the killings. On Sunday, the organisation called for stronger measures to tackle violent crime in Mamelodi, including the deployment of soldiers and the reinstatement of the death penalty.
Police have appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward.
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