Girls found chained to tree
2007-03-22 21:13
Bethlehem - A farmer appeared in Fouriesburg magistrate's court on Thursday, accused of kidnapping two Lesotho girls after he found them on his eastern Free State farm, police said.
Constable Mmako Mophiring said Kgauta Mofokeng, 64, and his wife, Lusi, 32, were released on bail of R1 500 each.
Lusi Mofokeng was charged with obstructing the police in their duties, crimen injuria and resisting arrest.
The couple are to appear in court again on April 12.
Police patrolling the Lesotho border found two girls, aged 15 and 16, chained to a tree on Tuesday morning.
Mophiring said that, according to one of the girls, who were from the Ha Qalo district near Butha-Buthe in Lesotho, three of them crossed the Caledon River to collect wood.
Chained to huge tree
Apparently Mofokeng approached and started shooting in the bush where they were collecting wood. One girl managed to escape.
Mophiring said Mofokeng allegedly took the other two girls to his farmhouse where he chained them with an eight-metre-long chain around their waists to a huge tree.
Police said the girls were found about 06:30 on Tuesday, after crossing the river to collect wood about 05:30.
Mophiring said the girls were taken to Fouriesburg police station.
- SAPA
