Following separate incidents in which 11 people were allegedly killed and properties burned between Sunday, 18 and Monday, 26 November 2018 at Sondela Informal Settlement outside Rustenburg in what appears to be mob justice attacks, a police multidisciplinary team arrested six suspects. The latter were nabbed between Monday, 26 and Tuesday, 27 November 2018 for various offences relating to the atrocities.
In the first incident, two cases of murder were registered after two men were found dead on Sunday, 18 November 2018 at Sondela Informal Settlement. It is apparent that tyres were used to set alight the victims. Further investigation into the incident revealed that the victims were from Matatiele in the Eastern Cape.
In other separate incidents between Wednesday, 21 and Thursday, 22 November 2018, two cases of murder were opened for investigation after two bodies of males were also found at various locations within the Informal Settlement. One of them was allegedly stabbed to death.
On Saturday, 24 November 2018, two men who are reported to be Lesotho nationals were allegedly stabbed to death.
In the early hours of Monday, 26 November 2018, five bodies; four males and one female were also found at separate locations in Sondela Informal Settlement. The motive of these incidents is not yet clear at this stage and investigation into all cases is underway.
The suspects aged between 34 and 56 are expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 29 November 2018 facing charges of kidnapping, assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), murder, arson and conspiracy to commit crime.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane condemned in the strongest possible terms the alleged incidents. She said that lawlessness, including taking the law into one’s hands that often leads to deaths of innocent persons, cannot not be condoned. She said further that the police will leave no stone unturned in exposing those who are responsible for these brutal acts and ensuring that they are brought to book to face the full might of the law. She also urged members of the community to remain calm, allow the police to do their work and to report any suspicious activity by contacting Boitekong police station at (014) 593 6001/2. Alternatively, the station commander can be contacted at 0824161337.
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