Public violence follows discovery of body

The discovery on Monday of the body of a man, allegedly the victim of a hit-and-run incident outside Giyani last week, resulted in public violence when family members of the deceased detected certain body parts to be missing from the corpse.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe indicated that Police were investigating a case of culpable homicide after an apparent hit-and-run on the Blinkwater road near Giyani.
Police received a report about a man identified as James Makhubele (53) lying in the middle of the road with multiple injuries to his body. He was certified dead on the scene and preliminary investigations have since revealed that the deceased had allegedly been hit by a vehicle which failed to stop afterwards, according to Ngoepe.
While family members were preparing the body for burial purposes they reportedly noticed that some body parts were missing and they instantly informed the Police. Ngoepe informed that the body was immediately taken back to the state mortuary for a second post mortem and pending investigation.
On Monday community members of Blinkwater mobilised and allegedly torched a six bedroom house and rondavel belonging to a family reportedly being accused for the death of Makhubele.
At the time of going to print Ngoepe said the situation was calm but that members of the Public Order Policing Unit (Pops) were still patrolling and monitoring the area.
Anyone with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects involved in both incidents can contact investigating officer Obed Masocha on 082 468 8673 or report to the nearest Police station.
Provincial Police Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba has pleaded with members of the community to keep calm and cooperate with the Police to bring the perpetrators to book.

Story: RC Myburgh
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