By REGINALD KANYANE
28 October 2024- Four accused persons aged 26 and 40, who were in connection with the murder of Alfred Ntagane Puoeng (34), are back in Taung Magistrate’s Court. Puoeng was reported missing at Pudimoe Police Station on 7 July 2024.
According to the reports, Puoeng was last seen in December 2023, when he left his home in Pudimoe. The missing man’s father allegedly received a tip-off that his son was assaulted by Keaobaka Blos, Mohau Gaobuse, Oaitse Nchweng and Rapelang Blos, for stealing a cell phone.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said in January 2024, the concerned father called other family members to check if they were not aware of the victim’s whereabouts, but nothing positive came out of that.
“In June 2024, the father eventually met the victim’s friend,
who was with him when he was assaulted. After being informed that Puoeng was severely assaulted by four people, who accused him of theft, the father reported the matter to the police.
“It transpired during investigations that four men assaulted and killed Puoeng, then buried him in a shallow grave at a farm, outside Vryburg. The accused persons were arrested at their residences in Pudimoe on 13 August 2024,” she said.
Funani further said the accused persons initially appeared in Taung Magistrate’s Court on 14 August 2024, and their case was postponed until 21 August 2024, for formal bail application.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated all members of Pudimoe Police Station and other role players for their collaborative and investigative efforts to ensure that alleged perpetrators are brought to book.
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