Eight suspects have appeared in the Mbibane Magistrate’s Court in connection with a mob justice murder incident that claimed three lives in Vaalbank, Mpumalanga, in 2023.
The accused — three men and five women — were arrested on Friday morning by the Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit around the Bloedfontein area. They have been identified as Gilbert Tlaka, 58; Alidah Ramatsetse, 56; Grace Mashiane, 55; Fridah Komape, 53; Mamsi Sambo, 56; Simon Kotlolo, 51; Giveness Maja, 51; and George Modiba, 55.
Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said the case stems from the killing of three people following the disappearance and death of an eight-year-old girl in February 2023.
“According to our investigation, an eight-year-old girl went missing on 12 February 2023 around Bloedfontein. Sadly, she was later found dead inside a pit toilet at the residence of three victims,” said Ndubane.
She said community members allegedly retaliated days later, leading to the deaths of three people.
“On 18 February 2023, around 2 am, police responded to a scene where three individuals — identified as Zele Machika, 53, Thabo Maubane, 22, and Paulinah Maubane, 51 — were brutally attacked and killed by members of the community who accused them of being involved in the child’s death,” Ndubane said.
Eight suspects — three men and five women — have appeared in the Mbibane Magistrate’s Court in connection with the mob justice killings of three people in Vaalbank, Mpumalanga, after a child’s body was discovered in a pit toilet in 2023.
Emergency personnel certified the victims dead at the scene. Police also discovered two vehicles, a Ford Bantam and a Volkswagen Jetta 4, which had been burned. Both vehicles belonged to one of the victims, Maubane.
Ndubane said all eight suspects have been remanded in custody and are expected to appear again on Wednesday, 12 November, for a formal bail application.
Acting provincial commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, applauded the investigation team for ensuring that those responsible were finally arrested.
“It is unfortunate that a family lost their lives in such a barbaric act. We cannot bring them back, but we hope the community will learn that taking the law into their own hands is never the solution,” said Mkhwanazi.
“Justice always prevails, and the truth eventually comes out.”
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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