Chemical castration proposed

After the reported rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl Thandi Mampane in Ga-Marishane village near Groblersdal late last week, Premier Stan Mathabatha and members of the Executive Council (Exco) on Monday visited the bereaved family and later on also held a prayer session with residents, educators and learners at Marishane Primary School.
Addressing the gathering Mathabatha echoed a suggestion by the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) that Government should consider introducing chemical castration as punishment for rapists. In a clip made available to Polokwane Observer, Mathabatha emphasised that although death visits all families, they cannot allow monsters such as the perpetrator(s) in Thandi’s case to claim young lives. He pleaded with communities to refrain from taking the law into their own hands but work jointly with the Police to bring the culprits to book.
It was learnt that the Department of Social Development deployed 12 social workers to assist the family, learners and educators with counselling in these trying times. Family representative Selekanyane Mampane said in a clip: “We thought we would find her still alive and we are heartbroken that she is no more. We are disappointed that residents want to take the law into their own hands hence we request them to give the Police an opportunity to investigate and bring the perpetrator(s) to book.”
Yesterday (Wednesday) morning, Monatse Mamabolo of the Provincial Police Communication Centre indicated that there were no arrests yet but the Police were following leads to find the suspect(s). Initially Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe highlighted that the incident of murder occurred between last Thursday and Friday when the deceased allegedly left home for school last Thursday and never returned. Her lifeless body was found in the bush outside the village on Friday, Ngoepe explained.
“The suspicion and allegations that the deceased might have been raped before she was killed will be confirmed by the post-mortem examination. The Police are requesting Bheka Rapolai to come to Nebo Police Station or to the nearest Police Station to assist with the investigation of this incident,” Ngoepe said.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za