BMW patrollers’ reign of terror

BOIPATONG. – Increasing numbers of victims of the now notorious BMW patrollers are coming to the fore. The victims are coming out to reveal the heavy-handed assaults they have suffered at the hands of the group of self appointe community patrollers that is said to be reigning with terror in Boipatong. Sedibeng Ster recently reported the deaths of two youths who were allegedly assaulted to death by the group after they were apparently found in possession of stolen goods. Siphiwe Mayaba is the latest victim of the group. He recently spent a week at Sebokeng Hospital after suffering injuries following an alleged assault by the group. He now uses walking sticks to aid him as he is not completely healed. Sedibeng Ster visited him at his place in Boipatong where he said that he was assaulted by the BMW patrollers after they met him at night. He told Sedibeng Ster that his only sin was being in the streets at night. His mother, Moitheri Mayaba told Sedibeng Ster that at first, they didn’t open a case against the group but did so only after her son received threats from the group. The case was opened with the Boipatong Police and one member of the group was arrested and appeared at Magistrate Court last Friday. However, said she was told by a police officer who handled the case to withdraw the charges against the suspect for the sake of his son’s safety. “I received a call from the police officer who asked me to withdraw the case because some community members claimed they have evidence that my son was caught stealing. This was the first time I heard that my boy was found stealing. We decided to withdraw the case for our safety. We are living in fear. If anything happens to us, people must know that it is a result of this. Now both of my children can’t even go out to the shops as they are afraid. We want protection, we did not want to withdraw the case against the suspect, but we were forced to do so,” said the mother. Boipatong Police Spokesperson, Constable Thembeka Koago said, “I’m not aware of the case being withdrawn. In fact, to withdraw a case there are certain procedures to follow, including the complainant signing that he or she is withdrawing the charges. But this matter is still under investigation.” Sedibeng Ster has learned that some community leaders plan to write a letter to the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, to intervene on the terror of the group as the BMW group is feared. Meanwhile, Sedibeng Ster has learned that another member of the group was arrested in connection of murder. This was confirmed to Sedibeng Ster by Koago.