SAPS urge community not to resort to violence
Fifteen women and 10 men were arrested for public violence this past Sunday
MGOBODZI – The local police have condemned the recent unrest at Mgobodzi after the kidnapping of a three-year-old girl on November 29.
Fifteen women and 10 men were arrested for public violence this past Sunday, when residents displayed their frustration by barricading roads with burning tyres and rubble.
Police spokesman at Tonga, Lt Mzwandile Nyambi, is appealing with the community to not resort to violence.
“As police officers we also want the child to be found, however, we cannot sit back when other crimes are now committed in the name of finding the child. We have to act when a crime is committed, and public violence is a crime which cannot be tolerated. So we are calling for calm,” Nyambi said.
He added that as the SAPS they intend on opposing bail of the three suspects who were linked to the case and have been in custody ever since.
Meanwhile, two of the suspects’ legal representative, Mr Nico du Plessis, was manhandled by an angry mob when he left the Tonga Magistrate’s Court last week.
Although the child, Lutricia Nkentjane’s body has not yet been found, Messrs Luis Sithole, Sfiso Mazibe, Themba Myambo and Jabulani Ndlovu, have also been charged with murder. The case was postponed to January 27.
By the time of going to print, the outcome of the court appearance of the suspects was not yet known.
Meanwhile, Nyambi requested that if residents feel that officers are not doing enough, they should report them to their superiors.
