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Druglord has turned these kids into killers

SELLING DRUGS: The four boys arrested for killing an 82 years-old man in Primrose, Ekurhuleni, on Thursday. 07/12/08. Pic. Thuli Buthelezi. © Sowetan.
SELLING DRUGS: The four boys arrested for killing an 82 years-old man in Primrose, Ekurhuleni, on Thursday. 07/12/08. Pic. Thuli Buthelezi. © Sowetan.

Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

A group of schoolboys who feared a drug baron they owed R7000 got so desperate that they resorted to breaking into houses in affluent areas to raise the money.

Now four of them have been arrested for allegedly killing an 82-year-old man during a robbery in his home in Primrose, Ekurhuleni, last week.

Two of them are pupils at the Fontanus Comprehensive Secondary School in Emndeni, while the others attend Lavela High in Zola, Soweto.

Four of the five boys were arrested in Soweto on Friday.

"I am so sorry," one of the boys said after his arrest. "I never had any intention to kill. I guess we were only trying to scare them."

The teenager told Sowetan he had not meant to kill anyone but was trying to free his friend, who had been captured by the couple.

"I feel sorry about what happened, that is why I confessed to the police," said the 16-year-old Grade 11 pupil from Fontanus.

He said they were selling the drugs for a man in Soweto.

"He gave us dagga to sell for him but somehow the police confiscated it and now he wants his money," he said.

Police spokesman Inspector William Masondo said the youths had not revealed the identity of their "boss".

"If we find him in possession of drugs he will be arrested. If not he will be investigated for dealing in dagga," Masondo said.

The juveniles, who confessed to breaking into houses, said they chose what they stole carefully.

"We only take jewellery, money and especially Kruger rands," said the 17-year-old Grade 10 pupil from Lavela High.

Masondo said the elderly man was stabbed once in the chest and died on the scene.

"He was killed in front of his hapless wife. You can imagine how traumatised she is."

He said the police were called to the house but when they arrived the teenagers had already fled with the couple's wedding rings.

He said it seemed the five youths had divided themselves into two groups because only two went into the house where the husband was murdered.

"One of the suspected killers is still at large, while his accomplice was arrested on the same night at his home in Zola 3. We have all the details of the one who escaped," Masondo said.

He said those who remained outside the house were arrested immediately after the incident and led police to their friends.

The four youths are expected to appear in the Germiston magistrate's court today.

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