NEWS & ANALYSIS

"Chopped up for chicken and pap!" - Daily Sun

The front page and lead story of SA's largest daily newspaper, May 28 2014

Daily Sun (May 28 2014) - THE pap and chicken meal was supposed to feed the entire family . . .But when Keromamang went to the kitchen she saw one member of the family had eaten all the food.

SHE WENT CRAZY WITH ANGER - AND SHE LOST HER LIFE AS A RESULT.

Keromamang Fortein (46) and her husband, Lekgotla Afrika (47) were hacked to death with a panga when the heated family argument turned into a life and death struggle on Sunday night.

Their six-year-old son, though also badly hurt when he tried to protect his parents, managed to escape to the safety of the neighbours' house.

The attacker, allegedly a family member, flew into a rage and attacked the family with a panga, hacking them to death.

He has been taken into custody and charged with murder.

The fatal incident took place at about 7.30pm at the family house in Honeyville kasi, Bolokanang, Petrusburg in the Free State.

A member of the family was allegedly questioned by Keromamang, who was worried about what they were going to eat for supper after the young man ate all the food himself. The dead woman's sister, Anna Fortein (52), said they are heartbroken and want the young man to die in jail.

Anna said her unemployed relative often beat Keromamang and had no respect for her.

"This is very sad for us. Keromamang and Lekgotla were in good health. They were not supposed to die," she said.

Another relative, Kgopotso Afrika (41), said it was a terrible family tragedy.

"We want this man to rot in jail. We don't want him to

ever come out!" he said.

A family friend, Monnapule Gumede (47), blamed the police for what happened.

"This wouldn't have happened if the cops had come to the scene in time," he said.

"I called them at about 6pm when the madness was going on but they didn't come until 10pm. They could have prevented this."

Police spokesman Colonel Motantsi Makhele said they will look into the matter.

"At a small place like Petrusburg police usually attend to complaints within five to ten minutes. We will investigate," he said.

Constable Peter Kareli said the suspect will appear in the Petrusburg Magistrates Court tomorrow on two counts of murder. The suspect was arrested on the same night the murders took place and is in police custody.

See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....

 

The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 297,614 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 4th Quarter 2013) and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.

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