Xmas weekend of crime in FS
2006-12-25 17:35
Johannesburg - Five people were stabbed to death over the long Christmas weekend in the southern Free State, police said on Monday.
Spokesperson Motantsi Makhele said five people, including three teens, were expected to appear in court on Wednesday in three of the cases.
A 35-year-old man was due to appear in court on Wednesday for the stabbing of Johannes Visse, 45, at Jacobsdal, Donkerhoek.
The two allegedly got into a fight on Friday at 13:30 and Visse was stabbed in the back and died on the scene.
In Bloemspruit, Bloemfontein, Charles Jafta, 33, was stabbed at 22:00 on Friday on a public road in Grassland 2 and taken to hospital.
He died on Saturday at 02:00. No arrests have been made.
Demanded money
Thabang Thaki, 34, was stabbed to death on Saturday morning in Batho, Bloemfontein. Thaki was on his way home at 02:00 with his 16-year-old brother when confronted by a group of men known to them.
The men allegedly demanded money from them and Thaki ran away, leaving his brother behind. His brother was attacked, but managed to escape and went home, but Thaki was not there.
He then came across a group of people in the street where Thaki's body was lying in a pool of blood. He had a knife wound to the neck, said Makhele.
Two 16-year-olds and an 18-year-old are expected to appear in court on Wednesday for the murder.
In Brandfort, the body of Pulane Khojane, 42, was found by her nephew with multiple knife wounds in the chest and face early on Monday morning.
On Monday at 02:35, the nephew left his aunt at home at Marantha. When he returned later, there was no response when he knocked on the door.
He realised the back door was left open and found his aunt dead.
A 38-year-old man was arrested for murder and was expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
Man found hanged
Also in Brandfort, Motlalepule Botsane, 26, was believed to have been stabbed five times by Stompie Molifi, 30, who lived with her. The pair allegedly had a fight.
Botsane died immediately.
When police got to the scene, Botsane was dead and Molifi was found hanging from the roof of the house, in Sommersit, with an electric cord.
Makhele said police had opened cases of murder and inquests for investigation.
- SAPA