Couple, baby burn to death
2006-09-20 16:05
Nkosana ka Makaula and Oris Mnisi
Nelspruit - Four men have appeared in court in connection with burning a couple and their baby to death after accusing them of witchcraft.
The couple, Matome Malope and his common-law wife Germina Mongadi, and their 18-month-old daughter, Mirriam Mongadi, were killed in their home at Willows village, near Hoedspruit, on Monday last week.
Capricorn area police spokesperson superintendent Moatshe Ngoepe said: "A mob descended on the home after villagers had accused Germina of witchcraft earlier in the day."
The family was asleep when the house was petrol-bombed and they burnt to death.
Four men were arrested in connection with the attack and appeared in Naphuno magistrate's court on Tuesday.
They were Eskiel Seotlho ,19, Kgomedi Maebane ,31, Mahlatsi Moeng, 23, and Sipho Malatji ,19, all of Willows village.
They were not asked to plead to three counts of murder and were remanded in custody until September 26. Ngoepe said: "We expect to arrest more suspects as there were more people in that mob."