By Obakeng Maje
Zeerust-Three arrested with ten others for serial murders.
An end to a dark chapter of killings in Zeerust, North West.
A string of murders where women were raped, murdered and shot in the head had engulfed the Zeerust Cluster in North West starting from 13 August 2011 police said.
Three suspects,Joseph Batshabenge Motshame(33) and Jacob Mojafi both from Ikalageng Section in Dinokana together Kabelo Molatole(21) found in a nest, hiding at Ottoshoop were arrested on different dates, starting from the 22 November 2012.
This spell an end to the dark cloud of mystery killings that were rife in Zeerust.
“A close friend of the three alleged serial rapists and murderers,a 29 years Kagiso Mafora was also found in possession of dagga to the street value of R8000, 00 was also arrested” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.
The three suspects were arrested for more than seven (7) counts of murder, kidnapping and hijacking in the areas of Zeerust, Motswedi, Madikwe and Lehurutshe.
The mystery of people being killed started in Lehurutshe on 7
th July 2011 when a young girl left home for her school graduation ceremony in Pretoria. Since leaving home she never returned home.
On Tuesday 2nd August 2011 her naked decomposed body was found in a farm,near Zeerust with a bullet wound on her forehead. The body was totally decomposed and DNA tests had to be taken to compare with those of the mother. The results were positive.
Another unknown female body was found dumped on the 28 July 2011 in Motshwedi at Mokaleng Section in Kgopane village.
The deceased was raped and also had a gun shot on the head.
Madikwe District on 05 November 2011 this is where two bodies of a couple were found in Dinokana village at Koffie Kraal in a nearby bush with gunshot wounds in their heads.
They were also stripped naked.
Another Lehurutshe couple were found on 29 September 2012 in their residential area at Ntswelontsoku Village after shortly arrived from the local shop.
They were stripped naked by the suspects who later raped and shot the victims.
And a case of rape and attempted murder was registered by the Police.
A third couple was found on the 19 October 2012 at Motswedi in Mantsie village. Their bodies also had gunshot wounds on their heads and the victims were found naked. Their vehicle was found abandoned at Ntswelonsoku village on the road near the tar road.
The last case of a similar nature was reported in Lehurutshe after the two victims were attacked while driving along the graveyard road in their white mini golf vehicle.
The male victim was undressed by the suspects and instructed to climb on the boot of his vehicle.The suspects drove the car while the victim hangs on the boot along the N4 road.
The vehicle moved towards the direction of Dinokana Village and fortunately the man hanging on the boot managed to escape. The suspects armed with 9mm pistol drove away with the girlfriend, she was later found dead, stripped naked, raped with a bullet wound in the head in the bushes. Her body was also mutilated with her private parts was and the right eye were missing.
The hijacked city golf was found abandoned in Lehurutshe near Tsholofelo Magope Middle School.
“All the successful arrests came after a Zeerust Cluster team of Detectives was appointed to investigate the cases where a total of 13 people were arrested.” Ngubane said.
Some of these people are family members of the main suspect who were found to be in possession murder weapons x3 9mm pistols, citi golf, laptop, dagga, rounds of ammunition.
All recoveries are estimated to the value of R82, 300.
Some of the suspects are charged for defeating the ends of justice. The suspects are going to appear in the Lehurutshe Magistrate Court on Monday on charges ranging from Murder, attempted murder, hi-jacking, possession of ammunition and dagga.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo commended the members of Zeerust cluster task team of detectives for the sterling work they had done in a short while.
The Guardian 