A 16-year-old Florida resident, who Roodepoort has come to know simply as ‘John’, was reportedly assaulted by nine of his former soccer mates in Maraisburg on the evening of Sunday, 26 January.
After a series of allegations against John, tension continued to build among the group of boys that often played soccer together in the nearby park. The final straw was when the group leader allegedly accused John of stealing his cell phone, which was later discovered to be at his father’s house.
Read the initial article here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2020/02/10/teen-violence-in-matholesville/
Allegedly, John and a few of his friends were walking home when they were confronted by the group of boys. John denied any allegations of having the ‘stolen’ cell phone and that was when the fight broke out.
John’s grandmother and uncle raced to the scene in a panic after their neighbour had described what was happening. The boys were beating up John with baseball bats, belts and sticks, subsequently dislocating his knee and bruising his ankle.
When John’s mother asked why they had attacked her son, the boys responded saying that he was on their land. In a gang-like fashion, these boys have allegedly claimed the park in Matholesville as their territory.
The following day John and his mother went to the Florida Police Station to open a case against the group of boys. Sergeant Mpho More confirmed that the case was opened, saying that the matter was being investigated by the Child Protection Unit.
While nine boys reportedly attacked John, only five of them will be appearing in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court on 10 March on charges of assault GBH (grievous bodily harm), More confirmed.
John’s family came forward with the incident in fear that the group might go too far one day, and end up accidentally killing someone, especially because this was not the first time they had been violent towards their former friends.
