In a briefing at the provincial police head office in Bloemfontein, also known as the Metpol Building, Lesia referred to one case in particular during his address as proof of this.

On April 1, seven members of the notorious gang ‘Born to Kill’ (BTK) were convicted and sentenced to at least 18 years each for murder and additional years on separate charges including house robbery, possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition by the Free State High Court. The convicts, Monnapule Motloung, Frank Sebotsa, Thabang Khuselo, Tebogo Sebotsa, Mojalefa Motloung, Nkareng Sediane, and Paseka Mabina were linked to gang-related criminal incidences that occurred between May and August 2017 by the organised crime unit, headed up by Tshokolo Posholi. This is not the only notable success in the province’s fight against gangs terrorising the communities of Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba’ Nchu.

Towards the end of March 2019, OFM News reported that six members of the same gang – BTK – were sentenced to 145 years in prison collectively by the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court. Police spokesperson, Peter Kareli, said at the time the then suspects were convicted on charges of murder, rape, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and robbery, after forcing their way into a house of a young couple in 2017 in Bergman. They are said to have beat the 27-year-old husband with a hammer, and stabbed him above the eye, after which they then allegedly proceeded to rape his wife. Kareli explains that the suspects then fled the scene and stabbed another victim they bumped into on the streets about two hours after the first scene.

The briefing comes as six alleged gangster members in Thabong near Welkom will appear in court in the Free State on 8 April 2019, after they were apprehended by the police in the early hours of Friday morning. The Police spokesperson, Mamello Mokhouane, says the six people were arrested in connection to the alleged murder of the 20-year-old Sandile Motsie, believed to also be a gang member.

OFM News