Young men and women led a march against gender-based violence. (Mgcineni Joel Williams)

• The police‘s 72-hour reaction plan has netted two men for allegedly killing their partners.
• The suspects, aged 25 and 35, were arrested in Fochville and Tembisa, respectively.
• The 25-year-old suspect allegedly stabbed his lover with a sharp object while the 35-year-old man allegedly set his girlfriend alight.

Gauteng police’s 72-hour reaction plan has nabbed two men wanted in separate cases for allegedly killing their partners.

The suspects, aged 25 and 35, were arrested in Fochville and Tembisa, respectively.

The 25-year-old suspect allegedly stabbed his lover with a sharp object, while the 35-year-old man allegedly set his girlfriend alight.

The 25-year-old was arrested in Fochville on Monday for the alleged murder of his 26-year-old girlfriend earlier in the day.

It is alleged the victim and the suspect had an argument that led to him assaulting and stabbing her with a sharp object.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said the victim was taken to hospital by an ambulance where she later succumbed to her injuries.

“A 72-hour action plan was mobilised to search for the suspect who was successfully traced and arrested within a few hours in Greens Park, Fochville. He is expected to appear in the Fochville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday facing a charge of murder,” Peters added.

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Meanwhile, the 35-year-old man appeared in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for allegedly killing his 52-year-old lover in Ivory Park.

Peters said on 5 August, the victim had an argument with the suspect who accused her of infidelity.

“The following morning, the victim was seen running out of her shack claiming her boyfriend had doused paraffin on her and burnt her. She was rushed to hospital where she was later certified dead.

“The matter was reported to the police and the case was prioritised like all the cases of gender-based violence. Police went all out to hunt for the suspect until he was arrested on 15 August.”