Phakathi arrested after community, media help police trace Soweto murder suspect
Police commissioner thanks communities and the media for helping police trace Simiso Silomo Phakathi, 27, who was wanted in connection with the murder of his girlfriend, Jabulisile Josephina Tshabalala, in Soweto.
The South African national police commissioner, Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane, expressed gratitude to communities and the media for their assistance in locating Simiso Silomo Phakathi, a 27-year-old suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, Jabulisile Josephina Tshabalala, in Soweto. Tshabalala's body was discovered on August 13, 2026, approximately a week after she was last seen alive on August 7, 2026.
Following Tshabalala's murder, police released Phakathi's image as part of their intensified efforts during Women's Month to combat gender-based violence and femicide. The South African Police Service (SAPS) had urged Phakathi to surrender to the nearest police station following Tshabalala's death.
Within four hours of the police releasing Phakathi's details, members of the Joubertina community in Klerksdorp recognized him from the photograph and provided crucial information to the police. Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, national police spokesperson, thanked the community and the media for their rapid response in tracing the suspect. She emphasized that the arrest demonstrated the importance of a united society supporting the police in their fight against GBVF.
Mathe warned that there is no hiding place for perpetrators of serious and violent crimes, and those committing such acts would be relentlessly pursued until they face a court of law. She urged communities to continue reporting information to the police whenever they recognize wanted suspects.
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