Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari has condemned with strongest terms the brutal shooting and killing of nine people at Popo Molefe Informal Settlement in Boitekong, outside Rustenburg.

It is alleged that, Lesotho nationals shot dead nine Xhosa speaking people and eleven people survived, others still in critical conditions at hospital.

During his visit to the scene of the shooting, Lehari met some of those who have been discharged, including a child (9), who had already been taken through counselling. Prior to his visit to the scene, Lehari had urged the team of investigating officers to work around the clock and explore every lead for the speedy arrest of suspects.

“We need to see people getting arrested on this case. It is almost a week now since the shooting and victims needs to see suspects being arrested. They must be arrested and face the full wrath of the law for their violent killings.

“The people who are responsible for this, cannot continue roaming the streets freely as if nothing happened. Nine people is too many. We further call on the residents within the area to avail information that would assist the police for the arrest of the suspects,” he said.

Lehari added that, the police cannot conclude this case alone, but they need coporation from the community members who might have seeing or heard anything. He said, so any information is important for the investigators to start arresting.

“As department, we send our heartfelt condolences to the families of nine deceased m persons and wished speedy recovery to the injured ones. According to the information divulged during the briefing of stakeholders, a conflict between the Xhosa and Sotho speaking people in the area comes a long way.

“It is reported that in September, about 40 shacks belonging to the Sotho speaking people were allegedly burned down by the Xhosa speaking people,” said Lehari.

Meanwhile, the acting District Police Commissioner for Bojanala 2, Brigadier Mmamotsamai Ntoagae said they are experiencing a lot of contact crimes in the Boitekong area.

“We do have operations, make arrests and host crime prevention campaigns but we still experience a lot of cases on contact crimes,” said Ntoagae.

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