Central SA
NW Hawks arrest 17 for arson─── LUCKY NKUYANE 13:32 Tue, 21 Jul 2020
At least 17 alleged arsonists have been arrested, after a group of 20 bikers are believed to have stormed, and set alight, two government offices in North West.
The Hawks made their arrest on Tuesday after the offices of the department of Economic Development were torched on Monday. The incident happened after the group demanded to see the head of the department (HOD) over alleged tender irregularities.
The Hawks provincial spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, says the group was arrested in Ramosadi village near Mmabatho.
Rikhotso adds that the suspects will appear before the Mmabatho Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, on charges of arson. There is, however, still confusion over the details regarding the alleged motive behind the attack.
The departmental spokesperson, Dumisa Seshabela, told OFM News that she is not sure what could have led to the arson, and states that in terms of tender allegations, the country has good systems to deal with complaints of tender irregularities and if it is such, they should have been reported to the police.
Their arrests come after MEC for the department, Kenetswe Mosenogi, called for the perpetrators be brought to book.
OFM News
