Police spokesperson, Sabata Mokgwabone, says of those arrested six are women and eleven are men. 

He adds these suspects were arrested after suspected stolen goods were found in their possession. 

Mokgwabone further adds these arrests are the result of an operation which was launched after residents looted goods from several tuckshops, flowing a commotion that erupted when two children - aged eight and seven - died after being hit by a police and private vehicle respectively. 

Mokgwabone says of these suspects, two were charged and warned to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 6 July. 

Another fifteen were released pending social workers’ assessment report in terms of the Child Justice Act. 

He says that these fifteen other suspects, who seems to be underage, have been placed in the care of their parents and will be assessed between May 5 and May 14.

"Prior to this, two police vehicles as well as an ambulance were set alight after a police vehicle allegedly hit an eight-year-old boy who was later certified dead on the scene. It was during the incident that goods were looted from the first tuckshops," he further says. 

Mokgwabone confirms that a K9 Unit vehicle, driven by a 48-year-old Warrant Officer, allegedly hit the child - who ran from a yard to cross Kudu Street at approximately 13:00. 

Mokgabone further adds that subsequent to the incident, members of the community set alight two police vehicles and the ambulance and a local municipality traffic vehicle pelted also pelted with stones.  

"Following the incident, three police officials and two paramedics were taken to the hospital for medical examination. Earlier that day, there was an accident in which a 17-year-old girl died on the scene after being hit by an Isuzu bakkie at about 10:20 on the Ottosdal-Lichtenburg road near Blydeville." 

As a result, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) took over the Boikhutso culpable homicide case for investigation, while the police are investigating a case of public violence against members of the community.

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