Staff Reporter
Three men have appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court facing a charge of murder after allegedly beating to death a teenager accused of attempted rape in Heidedal.
The trio, James Collins, 36, Shuwayda Mokoena, 27 and Yolandi Jansen, 21, are believed to have taken part in the mob attack of Mario Gift Van Schalkwyk, 17, after he was accused trying to rape someone in Opkoms in Heidedal.
According to the police, officers from Heidedal were on patrol near Rembrandt Crescent, Heidedal, at about 4am on Sunday when they saw two men assaulting and dragging Schalkwyk.
“Upon inquiry, the suspects told the police that the deceased had been assaulted by members of the community on allegations that he had attempted to rape a girl in Opkoms in Heidedal,” said provincial police spokesperson Cololnel Thandi Mbambo in a statement.
“The deceased died on the scene. A third suspect was arrested later. The detectives are currently establishing if more suspects were involved,” she added.
Mbambo said the nature and extent of injuries could not be immediately ascertained.
The case was postponed to June 30 for a formal bail application.
The incident happened on the same day the community of Bohlokong in Bethlehem took to the streets and beat up a man accused of stabbing and killing his friend with a knife following an argument while having drinks with others.
It is believed when the two got into an argument Tankiso Nhlapo, 27, allegedly pulled Molefe Edwin Letsoaka, 32, out of the room where they were drinking and stabbed him before fleeing the scene.
Nhlapo was later found by community members and was severely assaulted.
Letsoaka died on the scene from stab wounds and Nhlapo was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
The mob then blocked roads with burning tyres and threw stones at motor vehicles.
No arrests have been made.
Meanwhile, Ficksburg police yesterday announced that their administration offices at the Border Gate to neighbouring Lesotho have been temporarily closed after an officer tested positive for COVID-19.
The building, according to the police, is undergoing decontamination and all administration-related activities will be remotely operated from Qattar House in the central business district.