By OBAKENG MAJE
A murder case against alleged drug kingpin and a prominent businessman, Bakang “Mahomed” Katong (31) and his accomplice, Thabang Lenyai (23) was postponed by Taung Magistrate’s Court to 9 May 2022 for formal bail application.
Katong and Lenyai were arrested for allegedly assaulting and choking Thabiso Mothibedi (40) to death on 29 April 2022.
The atrocity took place at Manthe village near Taung. It is alleged that Mothibedi stole R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said: “The preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was at Lenganeng village near Taung, when the suspects fetched and transported him to Manthe village, where upon his arrival, he was chained to a generator and allegedly being assaulted.
“After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to Manthe clinic by a group of men and requested nurses to check if he was still alive. However, Mothibedi was certified dead upon arrival.”
Tselanyane further said, Katong and Lenyai were arrested and charged with murder. He added that more arrests were imminent and additional charges cannot be ruled out.
NPA regional spokesperson, “The murder case against the suspects was postponed to 9 May 2022 for formal bail application and investigation continues.”
Meanwhile, three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family were torched by irate community members on Monday. One of the community members, Mothusi Motimeng said: “I blame Baga-Maidi Tribal Authority including incompetent police for all these shenanigans happening in our area.
“Everybody can see what is happening and as community members, we have been complaining about these drug lords, who sell nyaope to our youths. Now, these nyaope addicts broke into our houses, stole properties and sold them, so that they can get money to feed their cravings.”
Motimeng further accused the alleged drug lords of using the deceased for their own benefits and killed him afterwards. He said as a community, they say #EnoughIsEnough because many communities are suffering from the effects of drug addiction and its wide-ranging impact.
Still on the murder case, Katong may be acquitted from the case after his accomplice, Lenyai allegedly cleared him of any wrongdoings. According to a highly-placed source within the police force, Lenyai allegedly wrote on his official statement that Katong, who has other pending cases, never participated in the crime and he was also not at the crime scene during the commission of the crime.
According to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ said: “This review synthesizes available epidemiological data on current drug use and substance abuse treatment admissions in South Africa since 1994 and how changes in the political, economic and social structures within South Africa both before and after apartheid make the country more vulnerable to drug use.
“Based on national surveys, current use of cannabis ranged among adolescents from 2% to 9% and among adults 2%, cocaine/crack (0.3%), mandrax/sedatives (0.3%), club drugs/amphetamine-type stimulants (0.2%), opiates (0.1%) and hallucinogens (0.1%).”
The Guardian 