By BAKANG MOKOTO
A police bakkie was torched by angry community members in Extension 1 in Jouberton Township, near Klerksdorp. This comes after a missing girl, 10, was allegedly found in the shack next to her home in a company of a man.
According to the North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh, the police were informed of a missing girl late at night on 9 August 2022. Myburgh said a missing person’s enquiry was opened and police did preliminary investigations.
“On 10 August 2022, at 10am, the community members mobilised and started to search for the missing girl. At around 4pm, the girl was allegedly found inside a shack close to her home in the company of a male, who was allegedly assaulted by members of the community.Â
“The police were summoned to the scene and on arrival, they rescued the man who was subsequently admitted to hospital. According to information, the members of the community, then stabbed and damaged the tyres of the police Nissan bakkie and ultimately torched it,” she said.
Myburgh further said a police officer was injured during a brawl after he was hit by a stone. She added that, the girl was taken together with her mother to Thuthuzela Care Centre for a medical examination.
“At this stage, a case docket has been opened for malicious damage to property and is under investigation,” said Myburgh.
Meanwhile, the North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned in the strongest possible terms an attack on police. Kwena expressed his displeasure about the incident and urged the community to work together with the police in the fight against crime through recognised structures such as Community Police Forum (CPF).
“The attack on police is an attack against the state and the damage caused will have a negative impact on service delivery,” he said.
The Guardian 