The men were linked to the recent mob justice incidents on members of the community who were suspected to be gang members.

These incidents claimed the lives of at least two people there. Among those killed was a 16-year-old Grade 9 pupil from Boitumelong, who, according to the provincial spokesperson for the Education Department, Freddy Sepeng, was not a part of the gang the angry mob was targeting and was merely a passer-by.  

They were released on R1 000 bail at their last court appearance and the men will appear on charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Three of the alleged suspects are taxi drivers and the community reportedly earlier on protested outside the Bloemhof Magistrate’s Court calling for their release. Earlier on, police spokesperson in North West, Adele Myburgh, had told OFM News that initially, four were arrested on 29 September during the provincial police’s Operation Fiela. Two arrests subsequently followed these four, bringing the total number of those arrested in relation to these mob justice incidents to six. Since these arrests, there have been no further arrests or unrest in the community.

OFM News