Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, said in the early hours of Sunday morning 1 August 2021, the police in Kopanonge were called to a murder crime scene of an alleged murder at the MUCPP Centre where a 23-year-old man had been stabbed and died. Makhele said the deceased, Moeketsi Mothata, was allegedly on his way home from a tavern with his girlfriend, Rethabile Molota, when they were approached by the suspects. He said the couple ran to the MUCCP Centre, but the suspect, unfortunately, followed them and stabbed the Mothata in the neck.

Puseletso Malizo, the sister of the deceased, expressed her disappointment with the health system as a whole. She said when she arrived on the scene at 04:00, his body was not even covered and she had to use her blanket to cover the body of the deceased. According to Malizo, MUCCP nurses refused to assist the deceased after he was stabbed and even told one of the patients not to help the girlfriend, who was desperately trying to put her bleeding boyfriend in the wheelchair, so that she can get him inside the building to be assisted.

READ: Bloemfontein man dies while nurses allegedly refuse to help

The Free State Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambo, said the matter is under investigation.

Makhele said the suspects were arrested shortly after a murder case was opened. The Retshidisitswe Ramadu (21), Boitumelo Sobuza (17), Mosa Mataung (19), and Lebogang Mokhoenyane (19) appeared before the Bloemfontein Youth Court. Makhele said their case was postponed to 25 August 2021 and they are expected to remain in custody until their next court appearance.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi