Update: It's beyond barbaric

Domestic held over gruesome Laudium killing

Police have made a breakthrough in the horrific murder of a Laudium mother who was bludgeoned and strangled to death in her home last week.

The murder of Rashida Ahmed, 49, had sparked outrage in the community and led to several high-level provincial government and police delegations visiting the area to restore calm.

The Pretoria News on Monday learnt that Ahmed's domestic worker, Sara Malatji, who was injured during the attack, was arrested at her home at the Itireleng informal settlement last week.

Malatji, who appeared in the Atteridgeville magistrate's court on charges of murder and house robbery, had confessed before a Pretoria Magistrate on Friday before she was charged. She will appear again on December 1.

While police remained tight-lipped about the arrests, detectives confirmed that Malatji had been arrested and had appeared in court.

"She appeared in court today (Monday) on charges of murder and house robbery after confessing to a magistrate at the Pretoria Regional Court and has been remanded in custody until next week," said an investigator, who asked not to be named.

Asked about more arrests, police said they were hoping to make more very soon.

"The arrests are imminent. We will catch them," said the officer.

Ahmed and Malatji were attacked in the former's home last Monday. Three men are being sought. It is believed they gained access to the house with the help of an employee.

The three killers were claimed to have overpowered Malatji before they turned on Ahmed, who was in her bedroom.

They beat her repeatedly in the face and around the neck and chest with various weapons for nearly an hour while dragging her around the house in search of money and other valuables.

The house, even the loft, was ransacked.

It is also apparently clear that at least one of the attackers was armed with a sharp blade.

While police have refused to say whether Ahmed was tortured, neighbours' descriptions of how she tried to claw her way through a security gate while screaming and begging for help paint a different picture and bear testimony to the rage and ferociousness of the killers.

The murder of Ahmed came three years after her brother, Hussain Abdulrahman, was killed in the driveway of his home in a hijacking just a street away from his sister's house.

Yesterday, Ahmed's brother-in-law, Shamshoo Ahmed, said they were pleased that at least one arrest had been made.

"Finally justice is being done. We now need to see all of those who were involved in Rashida's murder being arrested.

"We want justice to take its course so that the family can get closure," he said.