2 seniors in court after fatal fight in old age home near Brits

An 80-year-old man was killed in an old age home near Brits last week when he was attacked, allegedly by fellow residents (aged 92 and 75).

According to local police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani, a fight broke out between three elderly men in an old age home in Jericho in the North West.

“According to information, 80-year-old Godfrey Thema Motsepe was coming out of the bathroom around 04:00 on Thursday and encountered two fellow residents, Jeremiah Mmatli (75) and Daniel Madumo (92). The deceased allegedly bumped into one of them who [in turn] hit him with his crutches. His companion joined in the fight and both assaulted the victim,” Funani says.

She adds the owner of the old age home was notified and the police were summoned. “The victim, who had sustained head injuries, was transported to hospital by ambulance but was certified dead on arrival. The two elderly suspects were later arrested for murder.”

Mmatli and Madumo appeared in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday and their case was postponed until Friday for a formal bail application.

The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, expressed his shock at the incident and conveyed his condolences to the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West has called for a probe into the incident at the old age home. “We are extremely concerned about the level of intolerance and extreme violent behaviour that suggests possible bullying among the most vulnerable in our society, who were admitted to the facility to guarantee their safety and well-being,” says Pastor Lesiba Kgwele of the MRM provincial interim committee.

“Peaceful co-existence is supposed to characterise the environment at the old age home. While we are confident that the law will take its course, we urge authorities to get to the bottom of the matter and ensure that counselling and psycho-social support services are offered to the residents and staff at the old age home,” he adds.