Serowe Police Investigates Murders
Pini Bothoko | Monday July 8, 2019 13:03
Serowe acting police station commander, Bopelo Ntatiwa confirmed the incident in an interview.
Ntatiwa said a passerby who later reported the incident to the police found the deceased.The police chief added that the deceased was taken to Sekgoma hospital where she was certified dead by the doctors upon arrival.
“The woman was found near naked with her clothes by her side. She was only wearing her underwear.
Even though the deceased did not sustain visible injuries, we suspect, she was murdered, as such we are hopeful that the cause of death will be revealed by the doctors soon,” said Ntatiwa. “Investigations on the matter are ongoing to reveal what really transpired and we are working around the clock to arrest the suspect(s).”
In yet another incident, a second murder was reported on Saturday night around 2130 hours.
Ntatiwa said the deceased, 25, was stabbed to death by a man of the same age at a shebeen. He said the incident occurred at Mathwane ward at Mmashoro following a misunderstanding.
“The deceased’s elder sister reported the incident to the police. The deceased sustained serious stab injuries under his left breast. A misunderstanding allegedly started between the two young man whilst entertaining themselves drinking mokuru at the shebeen,” Ntatiwa said.
He said the suspect in the matter was arrested and will soon appear before Serowe Magistrate’s Court to face a single count of murder.
Ntatiwa raised concern over an upsurge in murder cases in his policing area stating they have recorded 20 murder cases so far this year. He attributed the rise in murder cases to petty issues that can easily be avoided.
“This shows people no longer value the sanctity of human life. The petty issues that always lead to deaths include arguments during alcohol drinking, fights over little things like cigarettes, beer and arguments of partners in love relationships,” he said.
Ntatiwa blamed shebeen operators who do not comply with the liquor trading hours for fuelling crime in his policing area. He stated that some of the operators commonly referred to as “MmaSpoto” in the area continue to violate trading hours.
“The incident was reported at 2130hours whilst people were still drinking, but the shebeen should have closed at 2100hours. We will also charge the shebeen operator for violating the trading hours,” Ntatiwa said.
He disclosed that his office has been holding public outreach programmes in the area in a bid to sensitise shebeen operators about the dangers of violating trading hours, but that seem to be falling on deaf ears.
He threatened to declare a war against operators who are not complying with the law.
Ntatiwa said they would increase their visibility, raid and charge shebeen operators who do not comply with the law.