Political parties unite at court to call for harsh punishment for Thoriso Themane murder

Political parties have gathered outside the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court where five teenagers are appearing for the alleged murder of Thoriso Themane, who was attacked in Flora Park at the weekend.

The five are understood to include a teen who posted a video on social media boasting that no one could do anything to him because his father was a policeman.

The 27-year-old victims’s father, Mahlapahlapana, has said he now regrets bringing his son into what he has described as a vicious world.

He said it was painful that he thought his son would bury him, but now he is the one who has to bury his son.

“We are pleased that you knew the Lord in your teenage years, although you had your own weaknesses. But the grace of God has undertaken for you … I will find you there,” he said, speaking to news channel eNCA.

“I’m sorry I brought you into a vicious world like this and I’m sorry about what happened to you.”

Meanwhile, political parties gathered outside the Polokwane court demanding action for Themane’s “senseless” death. The DA called for harsh punishment for the perpetrators, as a lesson to others.

The gruesome murder of #Thoriso cannot go unpunished.

We are calling for harsher punishment on the perpetrators of this heinous crime so that this can serve as a lesson to others. pic.twitter.com/P9MoRhunFZ

— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) February 28, 2019

Today, our Limpopo Premier Candidate, @JacquesSmalle will lead a picket outside Polokwane Magistrate Court, where five suspects aged 15 and 16 will be making their first court appearance for allegedly murdering #Thoriso Themane.

We are demanding justice now! pic.twitter.com/EcjqjjH8g8

— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) February 28, 2019

A handful of EFF members were also outside the court, demanding a harsh sentence.

Party leader Julius Malema has voiced his opinion on the murder and feels the father of the boastful 15-year-old suspect, who is a retired warrant officer, must be arrested and charged.

“His father must be arrested and charged with defeating the ends of justice because he was hiding a criminal,” alleged the EFF leader.

On Wednesday, the national commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Khehla John Sitole, condemned what appeared to be an act of vigilantism.

(Compiled by Gopolang Chawane, additional reporting by ANA)

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