According to police spokesperson, Amanda Funani, the group, aged between 17 and 62, were arrested after being linked to the death of the man who was also a suspect in the rape case of a 10-year-old girl at extension 1, and damage of property.

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She says according to information at the police’s disposal, members of the community caught and assaulted the deceased with stones, sjamboks and other objects after the little girl was found in his shanty in his presence.

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Funani says the first group of three suspects between the ages of 22 and 24 was arrested on Friday 19 August, and charged with malicious damage to property, whilst another group of six suspects was arrested for murder. The second group, which was arrested on Wednesday 24 August, was set to appear in court on Friday for murder.

Previously, police spokesperson, Adele Myburgh, confirmed to OFM News that the police have also received the results of a medical examination and it confirmed that the 10-year-old was raped. A case of rape was subsequently opened.

The three suspects who were arrested on Friday the 19th already appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on charges of malicious damage to property.“It is alleged that members of the community were accusing the victim of kidnapping and raping a nine-year-old girl at his residential place in Jouberton on Wednesday 10 August 2022. According to information, a case of a missing person was reported at the Jouberton Police Station on Tuesday 9 August 2022, and subsequently, community members mobilised and started to search for the missing girl on Wednesday morning 10 August 2022,” Funani adds.

The members of the community allegedly stabbed and damaged the tyres of the police’s Nissan bakkie and ultimately torched it after the police intervened during the attack on the deceased.

OFM News