The Bravo Security Company, and members from Bethal, Secunda Crime Intelligence and Emzinoni Police arrested a group of five men in connection with the murder of a 25-year-old Nigerian and the gang-rape of three women on Friday night, June 17.
The arrested group includes two 17-year-old boys and a 16-year-old.
The police commissioner in Mpumalanga, Lieut-Gen
Semakaleng Daphney Manamela said in a press statement police received a complaint from Bethal Hospital about a man who was admitted with multiple stab wounds.
The investigation by the police then revealed that on that a group of about five men reportedly had an altercation with the Nigerian who then ran towards a local fuel station in Bethal.
It is further alleged that the suspects pursued the man and stabbed him several times before they left him in a pool of blood.
The medical personnel were notified about the incident and upon arrival they took him to hospital.
The man later died in hospital. A case of murder was opened.
The man has been identified by his family as June Mwafor.
The police learnt through their probe that after the incident, the suspects proceeded to a certain house where they found three women, aged between 27 and 35 and allegedly gang-raped them before they fled the scene on foot.
The suspects were arrested on June 18.
All suspects are expected to appear at the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Monday, June 20.
The police are working in collaboration with other stakeholders, including the probation officers as well as social workers, taking into consideration the fact that some of the suspects are minors.
Police cannot rule out the possibility of the five being involved in some kind of gangsterism however this will form part of the investigation by the detectives.
Lieut-Gen Manamela said in her press release that she is concerned about the rate in which some of the young people are found to be in conflict with the law.
Manamela has reassured the public that police will continue to work tirelessly in order to dismantle any form of criminal groupings or syndicates that terrorise communities with crime.
“There is so much space created by the various challenges that the world faces today, of which young people can turn into opportunities by bringing forth innovative ideas and solutions rather than engaging themselves in criminal activities. We encourage the youth to join Youth Crime Prevention Desk in their respective police stations.
