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Man, 67, dies in cell

Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

A 67-year-old Mpumalanga man has been found dead in a cell at the Mhala police station in Thulamahashe near Bushbuckridge.

Mpumalanga police spokesman Superintendent Abie Khoabane told Sowetan that Melmon Shilubane was awaiting trial on a charge of raping a 13-year-old girl last year. He said police had gone to the cell on Wednesday at about 1pm to feed the inmates when they discovered Shilubane was dead.

"We believe he died of natural causes but a postmortem will be conducted," said Khoabane yesterday. He said investigations were continuing. He said Shilubane had been behind bars since last year and was due to appear before the Mhala magistrate's court next month.

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