Couple’s belongings are burnt to ashes due to witchcraft allegations
"We don't know the reasons behind the alleged accusations against the Lesenya family, but the residents went to their chief first and reported the alleged malpractice to him."When their chief disagreed with them, they took the matter into their own hands and set the Lesenya's property alight," he said.
BURGERSFORT- Community members from Ga-Podile ran riot, torching a house belonging to Mr George Lesenya and his wife Mmaneng. They accused the latter of practising witchcraft.
On February 3 around 20:00 the couple’s two vehicles and 10-room house were set alight.
According the spokesman for Mecklenburg SAPS, Const Kgalake Mampuru, the youth from Ga-Podile accused the family of practicing witchcraft.
“We don’t know the reasons behind the alleged accusations against the Lesenya family, but the residents went to their chief first and reported the alleged malpractice to him.”When their chief disagreed with them, they took the matter into their own hands and set the Lesenya’s property alight,” he said.
The victims suffered more than R1 million’s worth of damage.
According to the police, Lesenya and his family escaped unharmed. “The family was tipped off before the incident and they managed to flee to the nearby Motlolo Village for safety.”
Mampuru said the police were currently investigating the matter. “Cases of arson and damage to property were opened by the family. We will do our best to bring the culprits to book. ”
He also condemned the incident and appealed to residents in the village to work with the police to arrest the arsonists.
