POLITICS

"Fury over burnt bodies!" – Daily Sun

"Businessman blamed for mutilation and death of his security guards!" – front page lead, July 2 2015

Daily Sun (July 2 2015) - IN APRIL the body of a security guard, allegedly without genitals, was found dead near the river in the small village.

On Monday a security guard was burnt to death in a bottle- store . . . but the worst was yet to come.

COPS FOUND A CHARRED BODY IN THE SHOP OWNER’S HOUSE, ALLEGEDLY WITH ITS PENIS CUT OFF.

Residents from Riba Cross, Burgersfort, Limpopo accused the owner of the bottle-store of being a ritual killer.

On Monday night, villagers went on the rampage, torching the businessman’s double-storey house, three trucks and two cars as well as the bottle-store.

This is after Sunday night, when Abram Lekoadi (47), a guard, was burnt to death.

Colonel Ronel Otto of the Limpopo police said Lekoadi and his co-worker were on duty at the store on Sunday night.

“The co-worker claims he fell asleep and when he woke up he found Lekoadi engulfed in flames,” said Otto. “The man was later certified dead by emergency services.”

Otto said when they went to the burnt-out house on Tuesday, they made a gruesome discovery. They found the charred human remains of a man inside the double-storey house.

“It was difficult for the police to say if there were any parts missing as the body was burnt beyond recognition,” she said.

This is after residents claimed the man’s penis had been cut off.

Residents have linked the burnt body found at the river two months ago with the other two deaths in the village.

A villager claimed that the genitals of the body found at the river had been removed.

“How many more people must die before something is done?” he asked. “We believe he is a ritual killer and want him out of our village.”

Otto said another liquor store belonging to the man and some rental rooms were also burnt. She said a case of public violence was opened.

“No one has been arrested yet and we can confirm that the charred remains of an unknown person were found in the business owner’s house. The businessman and his family have been taken to a place of safety.

 

See the Daily Sun’s new website 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.

Issued through the Politicsweb iService