Police make progress on Mazibuko family’s investigation

Police are still gathering more evidence on the displaced family that lost their home after it was burnt down in August 2020.

The statement provided by a witness who was with the owner of the house, Masilo Mazibuko (57), on the day has helped the investigation.

The Mazibuko family lived in Motloung Section, Katlehong, for years before their lives were completely turned upside down.

Their home was burnt down after Mazibuko was wrongly accused of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl, whose body was found at the back opposite of Mazibuko’s house.

The acting station commander of Katlehong North SAPS, Col Johan Botha, said the community was looking for a reason to chase Mazibuko out of the community.

He said they saw it as a good opportunity to blame him.

“It happened in two phases. The first day was when the people, known to the family and the witness, damaged windows and doors of their property,” Botha explained.

“The arson only happened the next day, but there is no evidence of this,” he continued.

Botha said the only thing the witness saw was the malicious damage to property but not the arson. The witness reported that he saw two people damaging the property and making threats.

Police investigations continue after Katlehong family loses home

“Although we know that those two who made the threats might be part of the group that committed the arson, but there is no proof.

“The community never comes forward to testify because they fear for their lives,” he said.

He said the lady and young boy who have been identified by the witness have been issued warning statements.

“They have been warned that there is a case of malicious damage to property against them and they can provide their side of the story.

“Based on all evidence and statements collected, it will be decided if they will be prosecuted or not,” he said.

Botha said when he received instructions to issue warning statements, they discovered that the accused lady had moved.

He confirmed that the docket was delivered to the court and that at the moment, they are waiting for the court’s decision.

Kathorus MAIL recently spoke to the witness based on anonymity.

“A resident at Motloung informed me about two boys who were found during a house break-in. Those boys said they work for Mazibuko and they also confirmed raping the eight-year-old girl as per instruction from Mazibuko.

Police investigations continue after Katlehong family loses home

Mazibuko denied the allegation and said he knew nothing about the house break-in that he allegedly organised.

“There are many elements at play. The people who want my house will never give up until I am dead,” said Mazibuko.

Mazibuko and his two sons, Karabo (17) and Lerato Mazibuko (28), as well as two daughters, Refiloe Mazibuko (35) and Ntswaki Hlahatsi (23), have been homeless for 13 months.

They fled to Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, in August last year as community members threatened to kill them.

Mazibuko explains what transpired

He said on August 13 they discovered the body of a girl.

“A man was shouting my name in the morning and when I went outside to see what was going on, the man said he overheard people saying there was a body of a dead young girl in the backyard of my neighbour. He asked if he can get in my yard to see.

“Yes, get in. Let us go together. I haven’t seen anything as well,” Mazibuko answered.

He said they found the body before the police arrived. When the police arrived, he thought it was better to go home.

“As I was sitting in the house, the police knocked on my door. They said because my house was near the crime scene, they have to search both houses for any evidence,” he explained.

“I allowed them to come in. When they were done, they told me they found nothing. Forensics searched for blood traces,” he said.

The forensic investigation did not lead to any suspicion of foul play, he added.

Police investigations continue after Katlehong family loses home

“After that, a police officer asked me to go outside, stating that they want to search the house properly.

“When I got outside, there was a crowd screaming that I should take a DNA test because I do not have a wife or woman in my life, otherwise they would burn my house,” said Mazibuko.

Mazibuko added that a woman known to him advised him to take a DNA test because the community is angry.

“I went to the police station. The community demanded the police take our DNA tests,” he said.

“The police told me that I am not a suspect because the police did not find the body in my house. As a result, they could not run the DNA test on me because it is expensive,” Mazibuko said.

According to Mazibuko, the police said they could only run the test for free if he was a suspect.

He said he wanted to do the DNA test to clear his name and prove his innocence to the community.

The police kept him at the police station overnight for his safety to prevent mob justice. It was also the night that the house was set on fire.

“When Sello and I went to the house the following day, everything was gone. That is how my family and I became homeless.”

They returned to Alberton in January this year after lying low for four months in Pretoria. They were forced to live in a horrible, unsafe and unconformable situation at a bush near the Alberton town.

They survived chilly nights by making a wood fire to keep warm and rainy days and nights sleeping under a bridge with blankets.

After a month of living in an unbearable situation, Mazibuko suggested the children go back to the township to live with relatives.

Mazibuko was left to survive in the bush alone.

The family is looking for pro bona lawyers to assist them on the case.

To assist the family contact, Joyce Cele on 063 078 7051 or Karabo on 065 512 3087.

Police investigations continue after Katlehong family loses home