Residents of Ext. 7 were in fear and shock when a group of people forcefully invaded their homes and damaged their property and furniture.
Sophie Matimae, a 50 year old resident of Ratanang Street in Ext. 7, says she was recently about to go to sleep at around 20:45 when she heard noises outside her home. She suddenly heard people shouting and calling her son’s name. Sophie got out of bed and she and her daughter went outside. As they opened the door, a group of people with knob kerries and other weapons had already started entering her yard. She says she only recognised two people whom she believed belong to the Peri Peri Community Safety (known to most as Maperi peri).
According to Matimae, they began hitting her windows and violently asked her where her son’s shack was and in fear, she told them that he was not home and pointed it out. They then began to tear down her son’s shack, took the bed, blanket, sofa out and poured what she thought was petrol and started burning her things. She told them the things they were burning were not her sons but hers. She says they smashed her RDP’s windows and one of the people pushed her and she fell to the ground on her back. When her daughter tried to intervene, they insulted her. “I am not okay. I am disturbed by what happened. I fear what if they come back. I ask myself what they would have done to my son if he was home,” said the terrified woman.
The second reported incident occurred in Poelano Street, also in Ext. 7, on the same night. A 66 year old senior citizen, Malesane Dukenceni was watching TV when her dogs kept barking at about 22:00. When she also heard people shouting, she went outside to investigate. A large group of people entered her yard and a known member of the Maperi peri approached her. She did not recognise any of the other intruders. The man told her they were looking for her son. He accused Dukenceni’s son and a group he hangs out with of breaking into his home. She told him her son wasn’t home but he then pointed out the shack her son lived in. “They kicked the door down the door and the corrugated iron walls collapsed. They tore the shack down and took out the furniture, cupboard, bed and blankets,” says Dukenceni. They then took the belongings to the front of her yard. As they were busy, one of the group members pointed to another house and said they had already burnt someone else’s property. The mob then poured a flammable liquid over the goods and set them alight.
“I’m terrified and hurt. I’m a pensioner. How am I going to replace all the things they burnt.” she says, heartbroken.
According to Sergeant Kelebogile Trom, the Ikageng Police spokesperson, a third incident allegedly took place in Hope Street, Ext. 7 at around 22:40 on the same night. A 50 year old man was at home when he also heard a dog barking. He went outside to check what was going on. He saw a group of people with torches and pangas. He heard them calling his son’s name and forced their way through the locked gate. They threatened to hit him and hunted for his son. They then headed to his son’s shack and forced the door open. The victim did not wish to comment on the incident.
Lucky Lerefolo, the president of Peri Peri Community Safety, says they are aware of the cases reported. “It’s unfair for people to accuse us of breaking down their homes. Our organisation strives to protect the community and we are, therefore, surprised at the allegations.” Lerefolo adds that they have previously encountered situations where people falsely identified themselves as a member of the Maperi peri.
According to Trom, the estimated values of the damaged property is R59,000 for Sophie Matimae, R9,000 for Malesane Dukenceni and R2,000 for the 50 year old man.
Trom says the victims have opened a case of malicious damage to property. “So far, no arrests have been made but an investigation is underway.
