Seshego gangs disbanded

Seshego police recently made several arrests, which resulted in some gangs like 'Marikana' being disbanded.

June 10, 2015

Moyahabo Mabeba 2 minutes read

SESHEGO – WITH a lot of gang activity in Seshego and the surrounding villages having reared its head again after two years, the Seshego police recently made several arrests, which resulted in some gangs being disbanded.

Seshego police spokesperson, WO Mothemane Malefo, said one of the gangs operating in Seshego, known as Marikana, had been disbanded as a result of these arrests, which included the arrest of William “Mboma” Mabeba, who according to residents, was the leader of the Marikana gang. However, according to residents of Ga-Ramongoana in Moletjie, Marikana was still active in their area.

Malefo could not confirm gang activity by two gangs, namely Ma-Skhothane and Tonki tse Diaraga, which reportedly operated out of villages near Seshego.

However, community policing forum (CPF) member, Albert Masingi, confirmed that Ma-Skhothane were entrenching themselves in Thakgalang village adjacent to Blood River.

“This bunch of hooligans have just settled in at a shack in the heart of Thakgalang village. These youngsters are dangerous and capable of violent crimes,” Masingi said.

Some other residents who did not wish to be identified for their own safety, said they often heard women screaming in fear and agony, presumably at the hands of the notorious Ma-Skhothane gangsters.

Several Thakgalang village residents said Tonki tse Diaraga was active in their area. Masingi said members of this gang used donkeys, some of which were stolen in Moletjie, to transport suspected stolen goods such as building materials and scrap metal. “In the evenings, these donkeys are used to carry stolen property after the youngsters have broken into people’s houses and stolen valuable goods,” Masingi said, adding that the donkeys were mistreated and had open wounds all over their bodies as they were ruthlessly whipped.

Malefo said Mabeba was denied bail in the Seshego magistrate’s court last Monday and his next appearance would be on July 10.

Mabeba has also been charged with another murder that occurred in Ladanna and a rape that occurred in Mankweng.

Malefo further said the Seshego police were determined to stop all gang activity in their policing area.

He said they had managed to do this previously with gangs such as Mateki, Ma-Wrong Turn, Ma-50 Cents and Ma-Zulu that operated from Blood River, Thakgalang, Makgofe, Mmotong wa Perekisi and the RDP settlement of Luthuli Park, and would do so again.

He added that some of these gang members were underage, and all of them were were capable of violent crimes including murder, rape, armed robbery, burglary and business robbery. This was besides the turf wars they had with each other, Malefo said.

“We are hopeful that we will rid our communities of these criminals. We have are already arrested some of them and eventually the streets will be safe,” Malefo promised.