MBOMBELA – Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe, has commended the police after they successfully arrested four men and a 24 year-old woman on Tuesday for suspected murder.
The suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of a farmer, Riaan Jakobus Van Der Berg in Malalane.
Mr Van Der Berg was found murdered on Friday (30 May 2014) morning in his house with his hands still bound and a rope on his neck. The suspects allegedly fled the scene with his silver Nissan Hardbody, a television, tumble dryer, home theatre system and a cellphone.
The MEC said that such acts of killing and violence in farms can never be tolerated. He added that the arrest must send a message to other community members that such incidences are harshly condemned.
“This must also serve to encourage other officers to have dedication when doing their job. We cannot prolong investigations especially when the suspects pose danger to our communities. We want to see these suspects, if guilty getting harsh sentences.
“Through the Department’s Rural Safety Programmes, we always encourage community members to work with police to report or identify crime suspects. We however discourage communities from taking law into their own hands. Police are the best people qualified to deal with suspects of crime,” concluded Shongwe.
