Giyani councillor hides in bushes after escaping angry mob
Councillor, Motsatsi Masedi, is living in fear with her family after Greater Letaba Mayor, Peter Matlou, offered them a temporary roof over their heads.
Councillor Motsatsi Masedi of ward 12 in the Greater Letaba Municipality in Limpopo is welcomed by Greater Letaba Mayor, Peter Matlou, to a hiding point after all her belongings, including a car and two houses were burnt in a fire.
LIMPOPO – An ANC councillor in the Greater Giyani Municipality spent two nights in freezing weather hiding in the bush with her family after escaping an angry mob.
This after her two houses and her brand new car were torched by angry residents who accused her of giving poisoned food to mourners at a funeral. The incident took place in Goedplaas, a stone throw away from Modjadjiskloof near Tzaneen last Monday.
Now the councillor, Motsatsi Masedi, is living in fear with her family after Greater Letaba Mayor, Peter Matlou, offered them a temporary roof over their heads.
Speaking to CV, Masedi was clearly traumatised as she related the incidents that led up to her losing all her belonging in a fire.
“I am still shell-shocked and I fear for my life and that of my family. I have also taken all my children out of school because all their clothes, our food, furniture and money were lost in the flames,” she said through tears.
Councillor Motsatsi Masedi of ward 12 in the Greater Letaba Municipality.
Masedi said her predicament started on Friday, 18 May after scores of people complained of running stomachs after eating food at a night vigil. Some of them complained of stomach pains while others vomited,” she said.
“I called an ambulance and offered to use my car to transport those affected to pick-up points for the ambulance. But by that time some known rabble rousers in the community had already pegged me as the source of the illness.”
Masedi, was comforted by Matlou during the interview said the day after the vigil, the community consulted a local traditional healer about the exact cause of the problem.
“Upon their return I woke up to the smell of smoke and saw my two houses and car were on fire. The flames raged out of control through most of the rooms but through the grace of God we managed to escape with our lives, hiding in the bushes for the night. Had it not been for the assistance of the mayor and police who came to our rescue we would probably still be living in the bushes exposed to the unforgiving elements.”
Councillor Motsatsi Masedi of ward 12 in the Greater Letaba Municipality in Limpopo is welcomed by Greater Letaba Mayor, Peter Matlou, to a hiding point after all her belongings, including a car and two houses were burnt in a fire.
The Department of Health said their health inspectors found the food that was consumed during the vigil was contaminated with a bacteria which caused the stomach upsets. Health Spokesprson, Neil Shikwambane, said their investigations revealed the food was not poisoned but had either stayed out in the sun for too long or were rotten before it was cooked.
“We have found the porridge and the traditional beer the people drank at the funeral were contaminated with the bacteria,” he said, adding 28 patients were consulted at the Kgapane Hospital, 24 discharged later and only four were admitted.
Limpopo Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said police arrested Given Baloyi (19), Victor Ramorwalo (31), Forster Ralebala (33), Ishmael Kwarikari (29), Bfrenda Raburaku (27), Malego Morifi (42), Lepatla Polena (37), Selina Notwane (46), Joyce Ramorwalo (46), Dikeledi Peah (27) and Elvis Mampheko (27).
He said the suspects appeared in the Bolobedu Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence, arson and malicious damage to property. Ngoepe said they were all denied bail and their cases were postponed for formal bail application pending further investigation.
He added the damage caused by the fire was estimated at over R400 000 .
