POLITICS

"Blackberry revenge!" - Daily Sun

The front page lead of SA's largest daily newspaper, September 10 2014

Daily Sun (September 10 2014) - A BlackBerry doesn't even cost a lot these days. BUT IT MAY HAVE COST TWO YOUNG COUSINS THEIR LIVES!

‘Friend promised to kill'

"My friend's phone disappeared two weeks ago and he accused me, my brother and our cousin of stealing it," Phetolo Mokgomale told Daily Sun.

"He came to the tavern where we were drinking on Saturday night and vowed to wipe us out one by one if he didn't get his phone back."

A few hours later, the shack where Phetolo lives with his brother Frans Rampedi (30) and his cousin Bethuel Selopyane (29) was eaten by hungry flames.

Frans and Bethuel were inside and died a horrible death, as the fire was too strong for neighbours to put out.

Right away, Phetolo remembered his friend's threat.

"I was still at the tavern and saw smoke. As I rushed to find out which shack was on fire, I saw that it was ours," he said.

"Frans and Bethuel's bodies were found near the door. They were trying to break it down to escape."

Phetolo is sure his missing friend is behind the fire.

His sister, Maggy Mokgomale, told the People's Paper she was there when their friend promised to kill the three men.

"We didn't take him seriously because we just thought he was angry," Maggy said.

Phetholo is now living in fear because he doesn't know what his friend's next move will be.

Constable Jacob Mhlongo of Rabie Ridge cop shop told Daily Sun that an inquest docket was opened.

"We are investigating the allegations," Mhlongo said.

The dead men's bodies are at the Germiston mortuary, and the family is struggling to raise the money to bury them.

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 274 165 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 2nd Quarter 2014) 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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