GEORGE NEWS - A suspect in the murder of Gideon Mativo (40), a businessman from Wilderness, took the police on Tuesday 12 July to the ditch near Ballot's Bay in Thembalethu, where his body was dumped.
Mativo's body was found under some leaves, with several stab wounds to his torso. He went missing almost three weeks ago on 25 June after a visit to the Eden Meander Lifestyle Centre, where he owned a jewellery stall.
The police arrested four suspects (between 21 and 24 years old) in connection with Mativo's murder. They are scheduled to appear in the Thembalethu Magistrate's Court today (14 July) on charges of murder, theft from a motor vehicle, malicious damage to property and possession of suspected stolen goods.
Southern Cape Police Spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie said that more arrests are imminent.
Mativo was originally from Kenya but moved to Wilderness about eight years ago. Well loved in the community, a flood of messages was posted on the George Herald Facebook page after the news broke on Tuesday.
Mativo never returned home after he went to pay a stall-keeper at the Eden Meander Lifestyle Centre. His car, a silver Nissan Qashqai, was found in an open field at the back of Thembalethu two days later, on Monday 27 June. The vehicle was stripped of all four tyres, the alternator, the starter motor and the computer box.
According to Pojie, information that was followed up by the police led to the recovery of the majority of the stolen parts that were stripped off the car. "These parts were found in Thembalethu and as a result three suspects aged between 21 and 24 years were arrested and face charges of possession of stolen property as well as theft from a motor vehicle," said Pojie.
"Further investigation, which included the tracing of the missing person's cellphone, led to the arrest of a fourth suspect and the identity of another who could be linked to the murder of the missing person."
Whilst being questioned after his arrest, the fourth suspect decided to cooperate with the police and volunteered to show officers where Mativo's body was dumped after he was robbed and murdered. An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.
On a question if Mativo was murdered where his body was found and if he was alive when he was left there, Pojie said: "It would be speculation to say he might have been alive, however an autopsy has been scheduled which will, among other things, determine the time of death. The possibility that he was killed elsewhere forms part of our investigation."
The investigation was performed by a combined effort of the Conville, Thembalethu and George criminal investigation departments, the HAWKS, George Dog Unit and the Eden Cluster Detective Office.
Maj Genl Oswald Reddy, Eden cluster commander, commended the officers for their dedication and endurance that led to this breakthrough.
Mativo's wife, Caroline, thanked the police for their support throughout the investigation. "We've lost a dear, loving human being," she said.
"He was full of life and very positive about everything, a mentor and a loving father. Forever we will treasure the memories."
Gideon Mativo (40) with his three children (from left) Nikson (4), Emily (6) and Aaron (8).
Click here for previous articles:
- Body of missing Kenyan man found
- 40-year-old Wilderness man missing
- Update: Missing man baffles police
ARTICLE: MICHELLE PIENAAR, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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