Residents demand the release of arson suspects
Residents of Las Vegas and Ga-Mapaana villages in Ga-Kgapane on Thursday embarked on a protest action demanding the release of three men arrested for arson.
It is alleged that the three men together with a group of other residents set alight three houses of men believed to be involved in the killing of an 18 year-old woman a few weeks back.
The angry mob decided to take the law into their own hands by setting alight the three house belonging to the suspected killers because they are fed up of police protecting criminals.
According to Bolobedu police spokesperson, Constable Millicent Mohale, a mob consisting of more than 400 people including children threw stones at police officers, police station buildings as well as police barracks.
“Members of Tzaneen Public Order Police (POP) and neighbouring police station dispensed the crowd with rubber bullets,” she said. The crowd mobilised again around 20:00, they broke windows and set alight a detective’s house as well as some offices.
Mohale said they also set alight markets outside Modjadji Plaza.
She said the cost to the damage is R100 000.
“No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made for public violence,” said Mohale.
The men were arrested on three counts of arson. A case of public violence has been opened for further investigations.
