Murder trending – “Big 5 is committing murder”

The trail of a seemingly blood-hungry and arrogant teen gang has become prevalent in the wake of the death of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Ward 20 branch treasurer Thorisho Themane on the weekend, as further leads of similar attacks on innocent victims across the city allegedly being perpetrated for some time now are pointing at a possible ongoing reign of terror.
The conduct portrayed in a trending video clip that is believed to have captured the assault that led to the death of 28-year-old Themane on Saturday night, has sent shock waves through the community. Amid the outcries the call for the reinstatement of the death penalty is most prevalent.
His party’s provincial command team also issued a media statement received in the early hours of yesterday (Wednesday), calling for the immediate arrest of those responsible for the senseless and barbaric killing. “We are giving the Police 24 hours to effect arrest on all suspects as they are already known, failure to which we are going to be force to assist them in doing their job.” The regional and provincial party leadership and Members of the Legislature representing the EFF in Limpopo were planning to visit the family of the deceased.
Apart from the upsetting clip containing the visuals of an actual assault on a person believed to be the deceased, a voice can be audibly heard claiming “Big 5 is committing murder”. It is perceived to incriminate a gang that is reportedly in general made up of an approximate 14 members aged between 13 and 17 years of age, all seemingly attached to schools across the city and surrounds. Information provided to Polokwane Observer puts a Grade 9 son of a retired Police officer at the head of the pack that is now reportedly being rounded up for the murder of Themane, also a second-year student in electrical engineering at Zurel College in Polokwane and whose father is a University of Limpopo lecturer in Education Discipline and pastor in the Full Gospel Church.
As far as could be established the young Themane was found in a battered state outside his house in Flora Park, blocks away from where he would allegedly have been attacked at a dam on Saturday night, but was declared dead on arrival at hospital on Sunday morning. Five suspects between the ages of 13 and 16 years were subsequently arrested on Tuesday afternoon and are expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court today (Thursday).

Alleged intention to kill learner with whom video originated
According to unconfirmed information the investigation is also extending towards uncovering alleged plans to have the learner killed who took the incriminating video. The weekend attack is seemingly not the only one to which the gang is being linked.
Lamentably in the beginning of January Polokwane Observer was already alerted by an individual claiming to have fallen victim to the same group to the conduct of a gang of youngsters operating in Flora Park. A video clip that showed the attack on another boy, which allegedly occurred in December last year, was forwarded to Polokwane Obser­ver with the accompanying prediction that their conduct could end in murder. However, all attempts to secure an interview with the victim at the time failed, but in conversations on Tuesday and yesterday it was learnt that more videos on similar attacks were witnessed on social media platforms over a period of time and confirmation was received that the same gang linked to Themane’s murder had attacked both him and the boy in the video. No case had been made following his attack, Polokwane Observer was informed.
The mother of a third learner who spoke on condition of anonymity indicated during an interview with Polo­kwane Observer at the time of going to press that her son was almost killed by the gang in December last year. An incident in Bendor resulted in her son being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Polokwane Provincial Hospital for several days after being stabbed in the chest. “It was early Saturday evening and I left his bedside at about 03:00 on Sunday to report the case to the Police,” she said.
She met with the investigating officer again after three days when she was informed that a case was opened against her son for cutting one of the gang member’s finger but had to wait until 27 December for the next consultation with the officer as he was about to go on leave. During the following meeting she was notified that her son would be arrested. “They locked my son up in the waiting cells as he was told he would have to appear in court soon. After five hours they released him, saying that the case was not enrolled.”
In January the mother approached the Police with the question as to why the gang member who perpetrated the act had not been arrested yet. “I told them that they are dragging their feet and that the gang member is going to kill somebody soon if no action is drastically taken,” she said.
She confirmed that on Tuesday she had received an unexpected call from a female Police officer about her son’s matter receiving attention.

Social media abuzz
Friends of the deceased created a social media handle #JusticeforThoriso and demanded justice.
Education MEC Ishmael Kgetjepe responded to the texts saying “We are verifying the details and we will update accordingly. It’s a Police case and we are working with them in this regard because we understand that one of the suspects is a learner from one of our school(s), Capricorn High (sic).”
A reliable source who attended the State of the Province Address (Sopa) debate session at the Provincial Legislature on Tuesday emphasised that Kgetjepe addressed the issue in the House and had mentioned that the department was aware of the incident and they would institute investigations.
Condolences by Transport and Community Safety MEC Makoma Makhurupetje condemned gang violence among learners and offered condolences to the family of Themane.
“We are highly disturbed by this unprecedented murder of a learner which happened not far away from the school premises. This calls on us as parents, government and the community to strengthen school safety measures. School violence in any form cannot be accepted.
A statement released by Department of Education spokesperson Sam Makondo highlighted that they were deeply horrified and saddened by allegations of murder in which a Capricorn High School learner is said to be a suspect. Makondo indicated that the department will work with the Police on the ongoing investigations and reiterated that psycho-social team of the department has been dispatched to the school to provide the necessary counselling so that proper focus returns to teaching and learning while the law take its course on the matter.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe confirmed that a case of murder is being investigated and that five suspects aged between 15 and 16 years were arrested on Tuesday. He reiterated that the suspects were arrested for the alleged gang-related killing of a 28-year-old man in Flora Park on Saturday evening. More arrests are expected.
The victim was found in one of the streets in the suburb by a community member and taken to a local hospital where he was certified dead on arrival, according to Ngoepe. He added that Police were summoned and immediately started with investigations which revealed that the victim was reportedly assaulted by a group of youngsters.
Investigating officer Phillemon Ratsoma can be reached on 072 808 1188.

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YOLANDE NEL
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RC Myburgh
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