Almost seven years after the brutal double murder of an elderly couple at their home in Summerstrand, a new seasoned Humewood Detective has been appointed to investigate the November 2017 murders.
Andre Saaiman, 65, and his wife, Lidia, 69, were murdered at their home in Scott Street on 6 November 2017.
At the time, police believed the crime to have been a robbery turned murder.
Andre was hacked with an axe inside a room, while Lidia is said to have been strangled with a cable tie.
The couple's bodies were discovered more than a day after the murder when their daughter went to visit her parents.
At the time of their deaths, the Saaimans had been married for 45 years.
Police have been searching for the perpetrators ever since.
Despite relentless investigations by police, which included obtaining an international and domestic arrest warrant for a Mozambican suspect, no arrests have been made nearly seven years after the crime had taken place.
In 2020, the warrant was issued for 26-year-old Ezequiel Carlos Cossa, believed to be the couple's former gardener, who was the prime suspect in the brutal murders.
This week, Detective Constable Ridwaan Baatjies was appointed the new investigating officer on the case.
Police have now launched renewed calls for anyone who can assist SAPS Humewood detectives with the investigation.
Police spokesperson, Captain Andre Beetge said in a statement two Mozambican nationals have been identified that could assist with the investigation.
According to the statement, Cossa is still a person of interest, but another man, Leonardo Carlos Mathe has been added to the list.
Algoa FM News has reliably learned that Cossa fled Gqeberha, and has been on the run in Mozambique ever since the murders.
Any person that could assist police with information that could help with the investigation or the whereabouts of these persons, can contact Baatjies on 073 130 3018 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
