Community bays for the blood of murder suspects

THE community of Macleantown is reeling with shock after the robbery and murder of a farm worker at the weekend.

They are baying for the blood of two men who were last seen with the victim and who they accused of the crime.

The two were seen with the deceased, only known as Faku, on Friday night near a tavern called Jam House, and have been arrested for the crime.

Investigating officer Lungiswa Goniwe said after Faku’s body was discovered on Saturday morning the community was enraged when they saw one of the men and wanted to assault him.

Police had to intervene and took him to the nearest police station for his own safety.

Goniwe said when she arrived at the crime scene there was a lot of blood.

“The body was found on an unused road in his underwear. He was wearing only one shoe but the other was close by. About 100m from the body, I found his pants,” Goniwe said yesterday adding there was a bloodied pole near Faku. After the body had been moved by forensics, police investigations led them to one of the suspects.

The man was not home and a check revealed a golf shirt with spots of blood near the collar. He arrived later and was taken in for questioning.

Goniwe said according to a statement from a witness, the two suspects had followed the deceased with an intention of robbing him.

“One of the items we found on the scene was an envelope with Faku’s name on it with only 60c inside. His employer confirmed that he had paid him on the Friday,” she added.

Goniwe emphasised the anger in the community after Faku’s death.

“There was a meeting on Sunday and community members said if those involved in the murder were released they would kill them. There will be another meeting today to hear the outcome of the case,” she said.

Legal Aid South Africa attorney Londa Phillip said his client, one of the suspects, would deny having been with the other.

“My client will tell the court that he was not involved in any robbery or murder of the deceased.”

He said the other suspect had been assaulted by the police and decided to implicate his client. — siyab@dispatch.co.za