By Staff Reporter
MORUTJI — Chaos erupted in Tzaneen on Thursday, 04 December, after shoppers recognised a woman who had been on the run following the discovery of her boyfriend’s body buried in a shallow grave in Bolobedu.
Priscilla Mathebula, who has been wanted since early November, was arrested after members of the public spotted her withdrawing her SASSA grant.
Witnesses say shoppers immediately cornered her, with some shouting at her and accusing her of being involved in her boyfriend’s death. She had her baby on her back at the time of the incident.
Police were called to the scene and quickly took her into custody.
Mathebula had been sought by police after the remains of her boyfriend, Isaya Maphalle (42), were found hidden in a maize meal bag and buried at a homestead in Morutji Village on Sunday, 09 November 2025.
According to authorities, officers were alerted to a suspected body on the property. On arrival, a family member pointed them to a disturbed patch of soil where suspicious items were partially buried. After digging, police confirmed that human remains had been concealed at the site.
Maphalle had been reported missing on 04 November 2025 at Tzaneen SAPS. His family later identified items at the scene that linked the remains to him. A post-mortem will determine the cause of death.
Police say a missing person’s case was opened by the victim’s sister after Mathebula — who had been living with Maphalle since August 2025 — allegedly told the family that he had left home without giving details. Soon afterward, she disappeared and her phone remained switched off, prompting a manhunt.
The latest arrest was made by Tzaneen police after public intervention. Authorities have not yet released an official statement on the matter.
An investigation into the killing is ongoing.
