Winnie Mandela and Phomolong residents staged a protest outside Tembisa Magistrate’s Court to contest the granting of bail to two murder suspects.
On August 10 the two communities picketed at the court, holding up placards reading “Bokohara must fall”.
Two suspects, who are said to be members of the feared group, were appearing in court for a murder they allegedly committed in Phomolong on July 22.
The two apparently stabbed and killed Calvin Mashashana with a screwdriver, but the motive for the murder is not known.
“The community is angry towards the criminal justice [system] for endangering the lives of many people by granting bail to most wanted murderers.
“Bokoharam has committed a lot of crimes.
“They killed many people, they have broken into people’s houses and they have raped a lot of women but today the system wants to let them go,” said community leader Speaker Matlaila.
The gang is said to have committed most of their crimes in Winnie Mandela and when the community hunted them, Bokoharam went into hiding in Phomolong section.
Ward 110 community leader Thabang Sebyeng said on July 22 Calvin was stabbed to death at a tavern in Phomolong with no explanation given.
“The gang is operating all over Tembisa and neighbouring townships like Vosloorus.
“The two killers were pointed out in an identity parade by a witness.”
Asked about the circumstances surrounding the murder, Sebyeng said the deceased and his friends were at a garage when occupants of an unknown Quantum were seen pointing in their direction, evidently discussing them.
“When they left the garage they were followed by the Quantum to a tavern in Phomolong where Calvin was stabbed for no reason,” said Sebyeng.
He said the murder accused were arrested on July 24.
A Phomolong community leader said their community is going to trace the gang’s hideout in Phomolong and remove them from their community.
“We don’t want criminals among us. Justice is failing us and we as the community are not safe.
“The two criminals are granted bail of R1 000 each, which means our lives are that cheap. We therefore need to protect ourselves because we are failed by the justice system,” said the community leader.
The community is hell-bent on taking the law into its own hands if they see the suspects walking the streets on bail.
A woman who was a victim of the gang said she was attacked and beaten unconscious.
“They left me because they thought I was dead.
“Today I opened a third case against them because when I tried to open it before police refused and instructed me to go back to Giyani before the gang killed me,” said the victim.
The gangsters are suspected to have about 32 members who ran into hiding when the community of Winnie Mandela took a resolution to apprehend the criminals.
It is believed the gangster group has been operating for the past three years and since its inception has been on a killing spree.
One of the community leaders said the gang is made up of Limpopo nationals who came together and formed the group at a tavern in Winnie Mandela.
Captain Manyadza Ralidzhivha confirmed the arrest of the two suspects in connection with the murder committed in Phomolong.
He said the murder suspects were granted bail and thereafter they were rearrested for two charges of assault and one of intimidation after another victim laid charges against the suspects.
