FIVE KILLED IN KHUTSONG
Vigilante group attack sangoma and gangsters
FIVE people were killed in Khutsong near Carletonville on the West Rand yesterday after vigilantes allegedly attacked a sangoma and men believed they to be gangsters.
The police said a group of about 400 men from the area gathered to discuss the issue of gangsterism at about 10am yesterday.
“After the meeting they split up into small groups. One group went to Extension 3 where a traditional healer lived. They burnt down his house and burnt him as well,” Brigadier Neville Malila, Gauteng provincial police spokesman, said.
“In Extension 4 they set alight two men believed to be between the ages of 20 and 24. Those two died at the scene,” Malila said.
In Extension 5 two other men who were suspected by the vigilante group to be gangsters were stoned. One died on the scene while the other succumbed to his injuries at the Carletonville Hospital.
“We know of one person who is injured and is in hospital but we believe there are other people who could also be injured,” Malila said.
“We cannot release the names of the five deceased because we need to first alert their next-of-kin and we have not made any arrests so far.”
Malila described the situation as volatile and tense and said the community had been “chaotic ” earlier in the day.
By 7pm calm seemed to have been restored. There were no signs of the dramatic events earlier in the day as children played in the township ’ s streets and people went about their normal lives.
Malila said police reinforcements were sent out to ensure peace especially during the night.
“Police vehicles were stoned and there was breaking of windows but thankfully no police officers were injured,” he said.
Assistance from the Public Order Policing Unit was needed to help stabilise the area.
He said the matter would be investigated by the provincial department as the Provincial Investigative Unit had to be called in.
Malila said no arrests had been made but the suspects, when caught, could face murder, arson and public violence charges.
“We want to send the strongest message to the community that vigilantism will not be tolerated.”
Khutsong Police Station commander, Colonel Melinda Prinsloo, said that gangsterism was a problem in the area.
“It originated in the prisons. They came from prison and then they got more support in the community. It has been coming [on] for a while,” Prinsloo said.
She said there wasn ’ t one big organised gang but small groups in different areas. One such group is the Casanova gang, of which the two men set alight were members.
Malila appealed to the community to come forward with any information that could help lead to the arrests of the perpetrators. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or can SMS Crime Line on 32211.