Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, tells OFM News the deceased, whose identity has not been revealed, was in the company of a fellow countryman, who was also employed as a herd boy in Meqheleng township in Ficksburg when the incident occurred. According to Makhele the duo were walking in an open space between two residential areas known as Extension 11 and Zone 8, making their way to a local shop at around 22:30 pm. It is then that they were accosted by a volatile group of roughly 10 men carrying wooden sticks.

“The group attacked them and the witness managed to escape as they caught the deceased. The witness indicated that he observed from a distance that his friend was poured with petrol and set alight”. When emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene, it was too late. The herd boy had died from injuries sustained in the torching incident. 

Makhele says the suspects are not known and no arrests have been made. Ficksburg police are investigation the murder.

OFM News