Shopkeeper allegedly kills teen, arrested
George Giczash Acau allegedly killed Tokologo Letageng on Friday August 19 at 17:00.
SEKHUKHUNE – A 45-year-old shop owner appeared in the Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Court on August 25 for allegedly killing a 15-year-old boy at his shop in Kotsiri Village.
George Giczash Acau allegedly killed Tokologo Letageng on Friday August 19 at 17:00.
“The police received a complaint about a person who was lying motionless next to the shop and immediately rushed to the scene. Upon their arrival, emergency medical services were summoned, which certified him dead,” said the Limpopo SAPS spokesperson Brig Motlafelo Mojapelo.
He said preliminarily investigations indicate that the victim had entered the shop, owned by a foreign national, and allegedly struck a matchstick to light up a cigarette. The shopkeeper unexpectedly took out a steel pipe and allegedly struck the victim on the head. He fell down and succumbed to his severe injuries.
“The suspect fled the scene, but was apprehended in Tshehlwaneng Village a few hours later during a manhunt. The suspect appeared on a charge of murder and the case has been postponed to September 2 for the availability of an interpreter. He is still in custody,” said Mojapelo.
The incident sparked public violence, which resulted in the suspect’s shop being looted and burnt.
The looting then spread to other foreign-owned shops in Shushumela, Kotsiri Phase 4 and Dihlabaneng Village. “Subsequent police reinforcements led to the arrest of three people and the recovery of some of the looted groceries,” said Mojapelo.
He said the three suspects, aged between 21 and 45, also appeared in the same court on August 25 and were released with a warning. Their case was remanded to September 8.
The SAPS said the looting also spread to Matolokwaneng and Madibaneng villages, and additional officers were sent to these areas to stabilise the situation.
The Limpopo police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, sends a stern warning to community members who opportunistically loot shops under the pretext of protests, and has directed the police to hunt down these suspects and bring them to book.
