6 September 2007
North West Transport, Roads and Community Safety MEC Phenye Vilakazi, has
called on any one with the information that can lead to the arrest of ritual
assailants of the Phela village in Madikwe, outside Rustenburg to give
information to the police. Vilakazi said he was confident that through the help
of the community, the assailants would be caught.
He was reacting to yet another ritual attack that took place in the village
this morning, a third in two months. In the recent attack, a mutilated body of
a 17 year old boy was found around 06h00 this morning by a passer-by near the
Goitsema Middle School. His private parts were missing. He was last seen
yesterday at seven in the morning. It appears he was killed somewhere and his
body dumped near the school. The latest discovery happened after Vilakazi
visited the village last Thursday to plead with residents not to take the law
into their own hands following protests that were characterised by illegal road
blockages and the pelting of vehicles and police with stones.
The protests led to the arrests of a number of youths. Residents told
Vilakazi they did not have confidence in the local police. This after Bahumi
Mogorosi and Titus Lesejane were attacked under similar circumstances. Lesejane
was found dead while Mogorosi is fighting for his life in hospital. Both had
missing body parts. Vilakazi responded by appointing Senior Superintendent Jan
Mabula to lead the investigations. Mabula led a team that cracked the Rasuge
case. "The cases are very sensitive because villagers are concerned about their
lives but we have a capable team working on stopping these monsters that kill
other people and we hope to have a breakthrough on this matter," said
Vilakazi.
He again called on villagers not to take the law into their own hands
because they may further complicate an already complicated situation. "Police
are better placed and equipped to investigate such cases," concluded
Vilakazi.
Enquiries:
Mandla Mathebula
Tel: 018 387 4810
Cell: 083 282 6133
E-mail:mmathebula@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Transport, Roads and Community Safety, North West
Provincial Government
6 September 2007
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za)
