A man identified by police as a person of interest in the murder of a 23-year-old woman in Thembisa has been found dead inside his vehicle in Midrand.
Police said the man was the estranged husband of Boitumelo Gift Mashita, who was shot dead on Monday morning while travelling to work.
Mashita was attacked in Temong, Thembisa. According to police, her belongings were taken during what was initially treated as a suspected robbery.
However, Mashita’s family questioned whether robbery was the motive. Her uncle, MC Khoza, said the family was pursuing its own leads following a disagreement involving Mashita and her partner.
Police subsequently linked Mashita’s estranged husband to the investigation and began tracing him.
The Thembisa tracking team was searching for him when Midrand police reported that his vehicle had been found with his body inside.
Investigators believe he may have ingested an unknown substance. Police said there were no immediate indications of foul play in his death.
A post-mortem examination is expected to establish the cause of death.
Police have also said that, at this stage, they have not established a connection between Mashita’s murder and other killings reported in the area.