North West Police urge Bloemhof community to ignore the apparent planned stay away.

“So far the situation in Bloemhof is calm,” said Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, NW police spokesperson, after the police warned the community about a letter that has been circulating on social media platforms.

According to him, the letter informed the community of a planned stay away that was supposed to happen today (21 October 2019). He says the reason for this action is in solidarity of arrested community leaders.

“The 16 leaders referred to in the letter, are part of 22 people who were arrested between Monday, 30 September 2019 and 10 October 2019 for crimes such as kidnapping, assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), murder, public violence and malicious damage to property, which were committed earlier this year. These leaders also committed acts of mob justice disguised as crime-fighting,” said Mokgwabone.

Earlier today, one of the 22 people who were arrested appeared at the Bloemhof Magistrate’s Court and a group of community members from Boitumelong, were standing outside the court. “Police are present to monitor the crowd and the proceedings,” he said.

Mokgwabone said the police advised the members of the community to respect the rule of law and urged them to ignore the letter.

“The letter does not include the details of the writer and is meant to cause unnecessary fear. The usage of social media platforms to incite or mobilise people to commit a crime is discouraged,” he said.

Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, the Police Provincial Commissioner, says, “We are calling upon all members of the community to not only avoid being part of any action that is intended to undermine or challenge the authority of the state, but to join the legally established structures such as the Community Police Forums which are meant to assist the police in the fight against crime”.

Source: http://www.potchefstroomherald. co.za.

North West police are looking for four suspects after a 50-year-old woman was stabbed and raped while her gardener was held at gunpoint on her farm in Brits.

According to North West police spokesperson, Captain Elsabe Augoustides, the victim was in her office in the house on October 2 when she heard footsteps. She later discovered that it was not just one person but a group of people.

“The suspects got into the office and the victim’s gardener was held at gunpoint,” Augoustides said.

She further added that at the time of the attack, the victim was with her gardener and a domestic worker while her husband had taken their truck for tests.

During the attack, the woman was overpowered, stabbed in the back, severely assaulted and raped.

The robbers also ransacked her home and a number of items including her bakkie were taken.

She was taken to a hospital in Rustenburg and discharged this past weekend.

“She is still recovering from the assault and stabbing. Its not clear as to how the suspects gained access to the home and this is the start of our investigations,” Augoustides added.

“We have not arrested any of the suspects and we are hoping to make a breakthrough as soon as possible”.

The Star