North West: Body of missing David Filmone Monese found, suspect arrested — all you should know

Police in the North West Province have made a major breakthrough in the case of David Filmone Monese, a 59-year-old man who was reported missing from Mogwase in late June 2025. After an intense 72-hour operation by a multi-disciplinary police team, authorities arrested Lucas Enock Mkhize (39), who has since been charged with murder, kidnapping, house robbery, and carjacking.

Monese was last seen on Friday, 27 June 2025, at his workplace. His disappearance triggered a high-level investigation involving units such as Crime Intelligence, the Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit, VCIU, and Mogwase Detectives. Their efforts led to Mkhize’s arrest on Monday, 7 July near Ramatlabama.

During interrogation, the suspect directed police to Hebron Village where Monese’s decomposed body was discovered in an open field. Items believed to have been stolen, including cellphones and clothing, were confiscated earlier during a search in Ramatlabama.

Mkhize appeared before the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates’ Court on 9 July 2025 and was remanded in custody until 24 July 2025. Police have also launched a manhunt for two accomplices, identified only as Pontsho and MJ, who are believed to be armed and dangerous.

Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Patrick Asaneng condemned the crime, describing it as “dastardly, barbaric and abominable,” and assured the public that all resources would be used to bring the remaining suspects to justice.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS app.

Below is the official statement from the police:

Media Statement
South African Police Service
Office of the Provincial Commissioner North West

 

POTCHEFSTROOM – Following a missing person case reported at Mogwase at the end of June 2025, a multi-disciplinary investigation and tracking team consisting of Crime Intelligence, Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit, Rustenburg Vehicle Crime Investigating Unit (VCIU) and Mogwase Detectives was tasked to activate a 72 hour operation to unravel the disappearance of the victim, David Filmone Monese (59). He was last seen at work on Friday, 27 June 2025.

The Team immediately got down to work, following a number of leads, which led to the identification and subsequent arrest of a 39-year-old suspect, Lucas Enock Mkhize on Monday, 7 July 2025 on the N18 road, close to Ramatlabama in Mahikeng, about 60km outside Mahikeng, where Mkhize was hiding from police. Police took him to an address at Ramatlabama six hundred, where police confiscated cellphones and clothing believed to be ill-gotten loot from his criminal acts. He proceeded to take police to Hebron Village at Bangladesh section, where the decomposed body of Monase was discovered, in an open field, where he was dumped after being killed. Immediately a case of murder was opened in Hebron against the suspect, before he was taken to Mogwase police sells where further cases of kidnapping, house robbery and carjacking were opened.

Mkhize appeared before the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 9 July 2025 on charges of murder, kidnapping, house robbery and carjacking. He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on Thursday, 24 July 2025.

The police are hot on the tracks of his two accomplices who have been identified as Pontsho and MJ. The two are regarded as armed and dangerous and as a result, the general public, including their friends or relatives who may have information on their whereabouts are asked not to harbour or assist them form evading arrest but to report them to the nearest police station. You can also anonymously contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or make use of the MySAPS app from your smart phone.

The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng said: “This dastardly, barbaric and abominable crime by these heartless ruffians has robbed the family, relatives and society of a hardworking, valuable member of the community and all the available police resources and expertise shall be deployed to make sure that justice is served. The two scoundrels who are still out there must know the police will hunt them day and night and very soon they will have to account for their violent, senseless crimes. To the police they are considered and regarded as merciless, dangerous robbers and murderers and will unless they hand themselves over to the police immediately, be handled appropriately.”

Click here for the Initial Media Statement.

Ends.