Kimberley - A Kimberley father was beaten to death with golf clubs, pangas and spades after a group of men went on the rampage in White City over the weekend.
Four suspects have been arrested and are due to appear in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and Wednesday.
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased’s skull was ruptured while brain matter was oozing out of his head shortly after the attack.
“He obviously sustained serious head and shoulder injuries and was bleeding profusely.”
The deceased, Otsile Fortunate Motimela, 32, died in hospital on Sunday evening.
Friends who were with him explained that they were sitting under a tree in Masiza Street, in Galeshewe, on Sunday afternoon when a group of men attacked the deceased and also damaged two vehicles that were parked in the street.
The eyewitnesses added that one of the deceased’s friends had requested one of the suspects not to speed in the residential street, as there were children crossing the road.
“One of the suspects ran into a house across the street. A few minutes later a Renault and two Volkswagen Polos with GP number plates arrived. One of the persons who got out of the vehicles pointed a firearm at us. They were extremely aggressive and spoke Zulu, Tsonga and Venda.
“They told us that they were soldiers from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).”
The attackers hit the deceased with one of the vehicles and then reversed into him again.
“Motimela managed to get up and he ran into the yard of a relative. A group of nine men, carrying machetes, pangas, golf clubs and spades, chased after him and then assaulted him.
“You could see that he was in agony. Before he was taken to the hospital he asked about his five-year-old son and we assured him that the boy was with his mother.”
Rocks and golf clubs were also used to smash the windows of vehicles parked in Masiza Street . . . and these were left behind as evidence of the destruction and mayhem.
The owners of the vehicles stated that they do not know the suspects.
“We parked our cars in Masiza Street and were visiting friends at about 5.30pm. They (the attackers) came to the area last week as well as on Saturday (October 22).
“We have seen one of the suspects in the neighbourhood before as he comes to visit his girlfriend.
“The street is the local meeting place because there is a tavern on the corner.”
Residents in the area also reported receiving threats from the suspects.
“Motimela was a peace loving man who was always making jokes and was never a trouble maker. Bail should be denied to the suspects because this appears to be a brutal and premeditated murder where the deceased was unarmed.”
Family members are preparing to bury him on Saturday.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Majang Skalkie, said one suspect, aged 24, has been arrested in connection with the murder and would appear in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
Another three suspects, aged 23, 25 and 27, have been arrested in connection with malicious damage to property and will appear in court on Tuesday.
“The deceased was hit by a car and assaulted during the incident. We cannot confirm the cause of death until the post-mortem results have been made available.”
She was also not able to confirm whether the suspects were members of the SANDF.
“The investigation continues.”
Spokesman for Operation Wanya Tsotsi, Pantsi Obusitse, said community members would attend the court appearances to condemn the murder.
“Motimela assisted us with neighbourhood patrols as well as our anti-xenophobia programme. He was involved in teaching development soccer to youths at the Yorkshire cricket grounds. He was a peaceful man.”
Obusitse added that Operation Wanya Tsotsi assisted in arresting the suspects.
“It is a pity that we were not able to get on the scene quicker. By the time our members arrived the brutal assault had already taken place. The reason for the murder is unclear at this stage. We, however, do not believe that it was gang related or that it was a turf war.”
He said a memorial service would be held this week.
“It is a tragedy that such a young life was lost.”
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