Mob allegedly sets women alight after boy’s disappearance

Two women were killed when they were allegedly attacked and set alight by a mob at Ha-Mashau outside Levubu on Saturday.
Provincial Police Communications Head, Motlafela Mojapelo indicated that two people were arrested on the same day and were expected to appear in the local magistrate’s court earlier this week.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the attack followed a chain of events which started on Friday at about 10:00 when the body of a 12-year-old boy, Abelo Muila, who was reportedly went missing on 10 June, was retrieved from a river near the village.
The boy allegedly went missing while playing outside a local complex with his friends, according to Mojapelo. Subsequent to the discovery, community members reportedly gathered to discuss the matter. They mobilised at about 22:00 and allegedly attacked the two women with various objects and stripped them naked before setting them alight.
Mojapelo said that Police and medical emergency services were called to the scene to find one of the women already dead while the other was taken to a nearby hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. The crowd had also already dispersed when Police arrived, according to Mojapelo.
The two women were identified as Esther Mudziwa whose age is yet to be determined and 66-year-old Hulumeni Sarah Masiagwala both from Matsindevhe Village. Community members allegedly proceeded to the premises of a 79-year-old man and set alight three houses. He managed to escape unharmed, according to Mojapelo.
The Public Order Policing Unit have been deployed in the area to monitor the situation on the weekend.
Provincial Police Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter and that all the necessary resources must be mobilised to track down the suspects involved.
An update on the arrest of the two suspects was not available at the time of going to print.
Police investigations continue as more arrests are expected. Anyone with information can contact investigating officer Mudogwa Mutshutshu on 072 107 6731 or report to the nearest Police station.

Story: RC Myburgh
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