By OBAKENG MAJE
7 April 2025- A murder case against three accused, Karabo Kunene Karabo (25), Taolo Sebolai (23) and Boikanyo Setlhabetsi (19), was postponed by the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court until 16 April 2025, for formal bail application. The trio was arrested in connection with the murder of a policeman, Constable Eric Tekolo (41), who was stationed at Bray Police Station.
Last Friday in the evening, Tekolo was allegedly attacked and stabbed by unknown men while walking in the streets of Phohung Section, in Ganyesa. The assailants allegedly took his cellphone and wallet before they fled the scene.
Tekolo was allegedly ferried to the local clinic by his younger brother Pesaloma, who found him in the streets injured. However, Eric passed away upon arrival at the clinic.
North West police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Manyoba said a multidisciplinary team composed of various police units was assembled to investigate the murder of Tekolo. Manyoba said the team made a breakthrough when they arrested three suspects on 5 April 2025.
“According to information, the late Tekolo was taken to the local clinic after being found with stab wounds on the street at Phohung Section, Ganyesa village, outside Vryburg on Friday evening, 4 April 2025. Tekolo later succumbed to his injuries.
“Ensuing investigations culminated in the arrest of the trio, aged 19, 23 and 25, including the recovery of some of the victim’s robbed goods. The accused briefly appeared in the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court on 7 April 2025, facing charges of robbery and murder,” she said.
The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, said that the involvement of youth in crime and substance abuse is a cause for great concern, which has robbed not only the family of a breadwinner, but also the country and the community of a young responsible person who wanted to serve and protect. Asaneng further said the accused have brought shame to their families and unbearable pain to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Constable.
“This senseless, barbaric murder is confirming the moral decay and gratuitous violence within society,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng welcomed the breakthrough by the police in the arrest of three accused. Morweng said they are calling on community members to work closely with police to eliminate criminals out of the communities because they have chosen to be animals.
“If a person becomes an animal in the community, let’s treat her or him as such and if that animal is a problem, let’s remove it from the society and take it where it belongs, which is jail.
“You look at their ages. They are very young and should be contributing positively to the development of their community, not to its destruction as they chose to,” he said.
Morweng further said the attack on the police is equal to the attack on the state. He added that, as the state, they will not fold their arms and render useless.
“We must hit hard to free our communities from these cowards. We send messages of condolences to the family and the SAPS community. I will be visiting the family today in the afternoon,” said Morweng.
The Guardian 