Trial of five suspects in Leandra initiation deaths to resume
The victims were among 11 initiates at an illegal initiation school.
The trial of five accused charged with murder and operating an illegal initiation school near Leandra, where four initiates died in 2023, is expected to resume on September 21.
The four victims were among 11 initiates at an initiation school on Goedehoop Farm when they were found lying on the grass, covered with blankets, next to burning tyres.
According to the person associated with the initiation school who alerted police at the time, he woke up that morning and noticed four initiates moving up and down.
He reportedly became concerned after noticing that their blankets were wet and that the young men were shaking from the cold.
The man allegedly instructed the initiates to burn a tyre outside their shelter to keep warm, which they did.
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However, about an hour later, he allegedly noticed that the four young men were no longer moving. He opened their blankets to check on them and initially thought they were asleep before alerting the police.
Police and other role-players were called to the scene, where all four initiates were declared dead. Police said at the time that the deceased had bruises on their heads and bodies.
Inquest dockets were initially opened into the deaths before the matter was referred to the SAPS task team for further investigation.
Among the deceased was 27-year-old Thabang Ditsego, whose father, Jonas Ditsego, said the family wants answers about what happened to his son.
Ditsego said the family was relieved that the matter was finally proceeding to trial and hoped that justice would be served for the deceased.
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He said his son had attended the initiation school without obtaining the necessary consent from the family.
“As parents, we demand the truth about what happened to our children at the initiation school,” Ditsego said.
Thabang was one of the four Sotho initiates whose bodies were found next to the burning tyres. Ditsego also alleged that his son died under mysterious circumstances and claimed that someone had removed his tongue.
The five accused are facing charges relating to the deaths of the four initiates and the alleged operation of an illegal initiation school.
The trial is scheduled to resume on September 21.
