Latest news with #Mophiring
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- The Citizen
School principal among 10 arrested for mob justice murder in Free State
A joint operation by Namahadi police in the Free State, detectives, Phuthaditjhaba Crime Intelligence and the Phuthaditjhaba Public Order Police Unit (POP) has resulted in the arrest of 10 suspects, including a local school principal, in connection with the mob justice murder of 27-year-old Mpho Mokoena. Bloemfontein Courant reports that, according to Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring, it is alleged that on Friday at approximately 17:30, a group of community members, including the school principal, forcibly took Mokoena from around the Namahadi area, accusing him of stealing electrical cables and food intended for the school's feeding scheme. 'The group allegedly transported him to the school premises in an unmarked private vehicle, with some individuals reportedly impersonating police officials. Once at the school, Mokoena was handcuffed and allegedly assaulted with sjamboks in full view of some learners present at the time,' said Mophiring. She added that, despite a learner reportedly attempting to transport the badly injured man in a wheelbarrow, Mokoena succumbed to his injuries outside the school premises. 'He was later found covered with blankets and declared dead by emergency medical services personnel upon their arrival. A case of murder has been opened and is under investigation,' said Mophiring. Furthermore, on Sunday, a targeted police operation was conducted in Maluti-a-Phofung. 'The co-ordinated effort by the Namahadi Visible Policing, detectives, Phuthaditjhaba Crime Intelligence and POP led to the successful arrest of 10 suspects (five men and five women, including the school principal). The suspects are expected to appear before the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate's Court [today], facing charges of murder.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
16-05-2025
- IOL News
Mom, traditional healer arrested for allegedly setting boy fire trying to remove ‘Tokoloshe'
A woman and a traditional healer have been arrested after allegedly burning a child in a ritual attempt. A Free State mother and a traditional healer have been charged with attempted murder for pouring petrol on the woman's son and setting him alight. According to police, this was an attempt to perform a ritual meant to remove a tokoloshe. Tokoloshe is a mythical creature believed in South African tradition to be linked to witchcraft and misfortune. The mother, 39, and the traditional healer, 40, were arrested by the Ficksburg Family, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Provincial spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring said the incident took place on January 4, 2025. Speaking about the incident, police said the 8-year-old boy who lives in Meqheleng near Ficksburg was falsely reported missing on the community social media. 'It was established that he was sick,' said Mophiring He added that the mother allegedly took her son to a prophet who said that the child was afflicted by a tokoloshi and instructed her to take him to a traditional healer. 'It is further alleged that petrol was poured on the child and he was set alight in an attempt to remove the tokoloshe,' Mophiring. The boy suffered severe burns and was rushed to a local hospital. 'He was further referred to another hospital in Bloemfontein and discharged on April 29, 2025.' Mophiring said the matter was hidden until a community member found the truth and reported the case to the police. 'On May 14, 2025, the mother and traditional leader were arrested and charged with attempted murder and child neglect and expected to appear before the Ficksburg Magistrate court on Friday, 16 May 2025,' Mophiring said. IOL News
