North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Desbo Mohono has condemned in the strongest terms incitement of violence, acts of intimidation and unwarranted torching of a house and a car belonging to a tavern owner by an unruly mob in Tlokweng village near Swartruggens in the North West province on Monday.
A high-powered police intervention team from the province led by Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major General William Mpembe arrived in the village on Monday afternoon to mediate for restraint for villagers to give the investigations into the alleged ritual murder of Thabiso Moloi a chance. The rowdy crowd had earlier in the morning burned tyres and blockade the village to force residents from either leaving the village to go to work or learners from going to school.
MEC Mohono had earlier issued a statement assuring residents that police will not rest until those who are responsible for Moloi’s suspected murder are behind bars.
Mohono’s assurance that police will not rest until perpetrators of the ghastly act are brought to book and appeal to residents to allow the law to take its course and come forward with information which might assist police in their investigations follows reports of incitement of violence during and after Moloi’s burial on Saturday.
Police also reportedly had to disperse a rowdy group of youth on Sunday that was allegedly marching towards Mochacho Dibelane’s tavern. Twenty-five year-old Moloi was purportedly last seen at the joint on the night of the 15th of last month before his decomposed body was discovered by villagers in a bush outside the village last week Tuesday, 17 May 2011.
“Burning people’s properties and endangering their lives based on untested allegations is uncalled for and sheer criminality. Police will get to the bottom of the matter as they will not stand idle and watch misguided community members being manipulated by those with a nefarious agenda into breaking the law with impunity,” says Mohono.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0420
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
