WHEN teenager Lesedi Malatjie got sick last month and died a few days later, rumours started
doing the rounds that she had been poisoned.
And on Sunday, residents of Ntswaneng Village near Burgersfort in Limpopo went on the rampage, burning four houses belonging to families they believed were responsible for the 18-year-old’s death.
Following the incident, police arrested four people, including Lesedi’s father, and charged them with arson.
Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said tension had been brewing since the death of the teenager. He said some residents had
accused others of being involved in evil practices and killing
the girl.
“Residents went on therampage and started pursuing one family, but police reacted swiftly,” he said.
“The family is now under police protection. Members of the public order police have been
deployed to the area to help stabilise the situation.”
Mojapelo said after police had left, residents gathered and burned down the houses of four people they accused of being
involved in evil practices.
“The houses that were burned belonged to the Maepa, Mampuru and Mojele families. All these families are residents of the village under Khoshi Thobejane,” he said.
Provincial police commissioner General Nneke Ledwaba
said: “Members of the community are warned to stop making accusations against others and resorting to attacks and destruction of property,” he said. “Those responsible will be hunted down and dealt with accordingly.”
The suspects are due to appear in court soon.
