Family escapes festive season arson attack

Lebogang Baingapi | Thursday March 10, 2016 16:15

 

Ronny Maokaneng, 21, is accused of torching Rasekgwane’s property resulting in the loss of cash amounting to P6,400 and stock and other equipment worth P13,142. The attack took place while Rasekgwane and his family were sleeping on December 23.

Relating his ordeal before Magistrate Segametsi Basinyi on Monday, Rasekgwane said while on the way home from a local bar in the company of his cousin, he had met Maokaneng who was with an unnamed female companion.

Rasekgwane testified that Maokaneng began insulting him and even defended his actions when confronted by police volunteers who were on patrol.

“I confronted him and asked him why he was insulting us before slapping him. When we arrived home he also pitched up and called my cousin. “They started fighting and Maokaneng threw stones at my cousin. People gathered to calm the two.

“I then went to my house and slept. While sleeping I overheard one of the children telling their mother that Maokaneng had attempted to burn their leobo (makeshift kitchen) and they had managed to extinguish the fire. 

“After some time I was awoken by people who were taking things outside the house to escape a fire which had engulfed the house,”  Rasekgwane said.

He added that the police turned up with Maokaneng who confessed that he had intended to burn Rasekgwane in his house.

Rasekgwane ‘s wife, Obakeng Joseph, who runs a bakery, spoke of the losses suffered from the attack and how she had seen Maokaneng in her yard running away and jumping the fence when her house was engulfed by fire. “I managed to escape with my husband, two children and some items. Other items were already burning.

“I called the police volunteers who managed to arrest Maokaneng and brought him to the scene of crime,” she said. For his part, Maokaneng  claimed that he had been assaulted and abused by the police officers into admitting the charges against him.

However, the investigating officer, Kebalemogile Basemeng refuted the assault allegations, saying the accused voluntarily showed police how he gained entrance into Joseph’s yard by jumping the fence before burning her hut.

The case continues on April 5 when Maokaneng is expected to submit an application for no case to answer.