North West Premier Thandi Modise has condemned in the strongest terms possible vigilantism after a mob stoned to death a 34-year-old man who he had fatally stabbed 24-year-old former girlfriend in Majemantsho village outside Mahikeng on Saturday.
“We are saddened by the loss of lives and wish to convey our condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones. Vigilantism is lawlessness. There is no justification for people to take the law into their own hands .Our courts are the relevant institutions to dispense of justice,” said Premier Modise.
The Premier has expressed confidence that police will soon arrest those responsible and appealed to members of the community who witnessed this ghastly and barbaric act to assist them in their investigations.
According to Herminah Matsheng, her sister Motlalepula Matlala was accosted by her former boyfriend Boytjie Molefe at her home while she was cleaning the house at around 10h00. Matsheng alleges that her sister was stabbed on the chest and behind her back as she tried to flee but collapsed and died on the spot.
A mob that was attending a funeral in the neighbourhood rushed to the scene in response to her screams and chased Molefe before they caught him about and stoned him to death about 100 meters from Matlala’s house. Police who arrived at the scene were also stoned and had to fire three warning shots to disperse the rowdy and blood thirsty mob.
It is alleged that Matlala was in the company of her 9 year niece and her 6 year old daughter at time of the attack. Matsheng was part of the mourners who were attending the funeral.
In another incident, a woman died after her boyfriend allegedly assaulted her with a piece of firewood in Mooinooi outside Brits on Friday evening.
According to police, the 43-year-old woman and her boyfriend were having an argument at her parents' house when he attacked her at about 8:00pm.
"It is alleged that the victim had open wounds on her neck, at the back of her head and on her shoulder. She was also bleeding from her left ear and died at the scene," Spokesperson for North West Police, Captain Pelonomi Makau said.
In conveying condolences to the family of the deceased, Premier Modise appealed to the community to assist police in their search for the 38-year-old boyfriend. Modise appealed to couples experiencing tensions in their relationships to seek counselling and professional help before matters get out of hand.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele, Spokesperson
Cell: 083 629 1987
Tel: 018 388 3705
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
