Man 'necklaced'
Mob attacks couple accused of daughter's murder. Wife saved
CONDEMNED: The man in a grey shirt, Enock Ramalobela, pleads with the mob not to kill him before he was stoned and set alight. PHOTO: PAUL MUKHUFI
A 50-YEAR-OLD man was brutally stoned to death before his body was set alight in Sekgosese outside Modjadjiskloof in Limpopo on Sunday night.
The man was stoned and beaten with sticks. A tyre was put around his neck, doused with petrol and set alight. He was suspected of murdering his daughter Mendi Ramalobela, 14.
The girl was reported missing on October 10 last year and her decomposed body was found at an abandoned house nearby on January 6 this year. Both her legs and hands were tied together.
The man's wife, who watched helplessly as her husband was killed, was also doused with petrol but was fortunately rescued by members of the police who arrived at the scene when she was already burning. A police officer was also attacked by the angry crowd and his service van was also pelted with stones.
The girl's mother and three other children, two boys and a girl, were taken to a place of safety soon after they arrived at the scene and were under police guard.
Limpopo spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Ronel Otto said the angry villagers went to the house of the victim at about 7pm and attacked them. They identified the dead man as Enock Ramalobela, stepfather of the 14-year-old girl.
"The girl's hands and legs were tied up with shoelaces. Her school bag and uniform were under the same bed.
She went missing while on her way to Sekgosese Secondary School outside Modjadjiskloof in the greater Letaba local municipality. A case was opened at the Sekgosese police station," Otto said.
On the day of the girl's disappearance, her friends went to her house to take her to school but her father allegedly refused and said she was busy and would follow them later, Sowetan was told.
Lieutenant-General Simon Mpembe, the Limpopo police commissioner, condemned the attack and warned citizens against taking the law into their own hands.
SifisoHadebe
To avoid such horrors in the future. When one witnesses a mob gathering in a public space, one should phone the SAPS immediately.Report Abuse
MommaC
" the Limpopo police commissioner, condemned the attack and warned citizens against taking the law into their own hands."Has the commissioner ever considered that it is a pretty damning indication of the villagers' faith in his cops and the law in general?
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Bhubesi
"On the day of the girl's disappearance, her friends went to her house to take her to school but her father allegedly refused and said she was busy and would follow them later, Sowetan was told".------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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MGEEZ
SifisoHadebeTo avoid such horrors in the future. When one witnesses a mob gathering in a public space, one should phone the SAPS immediately.
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I agree with you on this one; we should not perpetuate mob justice at all!!!! Having said that; I trust that SAPS will up their game, surely this plan would have been known in the community before it was executed. Government needs to make it impossible for people who commit certain acts of crimes to be relaesed through parole prior to a certain number of yrs having been served in their sentences. This they can do by passing the necessary legislations in this regard that would impose mandatory sentences for certain offences. This is perfectly legal and is not intervening with the judiciary system at all. I think that way the communities may regain their confidence in the system.
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pik_it_up
hi there police officers, yeah this happens when you dont do your f.uck.en jobReport Abuse
munhu
You tell me the difference with stone age. This is barbarism at its best. I am yet to hear of any other country under the sun where such things happen. First world my foot! Thank God am Zimbabwean!Report Abuse
Arewanga
I know this is how we do it in Limpopo, we take law into ourt own hands cus police take their time. anyway rest in peace.Report Abuse