Two die after being set alight
ARRESTS: WEST RAND COPS SWOOP AFTER ALLEGED RAPE, ASSAULT, MURDER IN OPEN FIELD
Police applauded for tracking down ‘gang’ of seven.
Aman and a woman in their mid-30s died after they were kidnapped, assaulted and set alight by a gang on the West Rand at the weekend. Kagiso police have since arrested seven suspects.
The two were walking home with a group of friends in the early hours of Saturday morning when a taxi hit the man and then drove away.
One of their friends chased the taxi and told the driver to return to the scene.
There was an altercation between the taxi driver and the man’s friends.
After that, the group left the injured man with a female friend.
He was put into the taxi, with his friend accompanying him on what she believed was a journey to the hospital.
Instead, the taxi driver stopped at an open field before he and his accomplices dragged the man and woman out of the taxi and allegedly assaulted them.
The woman was then allegedly raped while the man was forced to watch.
The gang then proceeded to pelt them with bricks, poured petrol on them and set it alight before driving away.
Both victims sustained critical injuries, but managed to make their way to a hospital.
But they both died within a few days.
The seven people arrested are under investigation for murder, rape and reckless and negligent driving.
They will appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court.
Major-General Anna Mateisi, the West Rand cluster commander, applauded the arresting officers for their dedication and hard work in tracking the gang down.
She also encouraged the community to work hand in hand with the police and, especially, to give anonymous tip-offs.
“It is through the assistance of the community that these arrests were possible,” said Lucky Matome, spokesperson for the West Rand cluster.
“You can tell that the people of the West Rand are fed up with crime.
“Please continue to help the police with tip-offs and we will ensure that the fight against crime continues.” – Caxton News Service