POTCHEFSTROOM: All 21 suspects arrested by the Provincial Task Team between Monday, 30 September and Tuesday, 1 October 2019 appeared in the Bloemhof Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 2 October 2019 for various alleged offences.

The accused who are facing more than one charge, were apprehended as a result of months of intensive investigations relating to incidents of vigilantism and public violence that were reported earlier this year in Boitumelong Location near Bloemhof. The accused appeared as follows:

Murder – One accused. He was remanded in custody until Friday, 11 October 2019

Kidnapping – Eight accused. They were all remanded in custody until Wednesday, 9 October 2019

Robbery – Six accused. Three of the accused who are females were granted R500.00 bail each while the other three will remain in custody until the next appearance on Friday, 11 October 2019.

House robbery – Five accused. They were all remanded in custody until Wednesday, 9 October 2019.

Public Violence – Four accused. Each of them was granted R500.00 bail and will appear before the same court on Wednesday, 16 October 2019.

Malicious damage to property – 12 accused. They were all remanded in custody. Ten of them will reappear on Friday, 11 October 2019 while the other two is expected back in court on Wednesday, 9 October 2019.

Theft – Three accused -They were all remanded in custody until Wednesday, 9 October 2019.

Assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm – Nine accused. Only one accused who is a female, was granted R500.00 bail. All accused will reappear in court on Wednesday, 9 October 2019.

Public Violence and malicious damage to property – Four accused. They were all granted R500.00 bail and will reappear in court on Wednesday, 16 October 2019.

The suspects who include three women, were arrested at various locations in Bloemhof for assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), kidnapping, house robbery, murder, robbery malicious damage to property and public violence. In one of the incidents on Monday, 24 June 2019, an 18-year-old man was admitted to hospital after he was severely assaulted at Extension 10, Boitumelong Location. He later died at hospital and a case of murder was registered for investigation.

During the operation, a number of suspects was arrested and charged for public violence subsequent to the violence that erupted in March at Boitumelong Sportsground where the North West Premier was due to address members of the community about their concerns.

Source: South African Police Service