Burnt to death for refusing to take part in ritual

Published Feb 11, 2017

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Rustenburg – No arrests have been made after a man was burnt to death in Marikana near Rustenburg, North West police said on Friday.

"We can confirm that a murder case was registered at Marikana police station. The incident happened the early hours of Saturday [4 February 2017]. No arrest at this stage and investigation continues," said Lieutenant Colonel Pelonomi Makau.

She said the man was killed after he allegedly refused to participate in a ritual conducted at one of the low cost house (RDP) in Marikana West Extension, as he thought the ritual was for cleansing people who were involved in a murder that was once reported in the area.

The sangoma who conducted the cleansing had earlier reported that there was a sell out amongst the community, and the ritual was conducted for all of them, but because the man refused to take part he was seen as the alleged sell out.

"He was allegedly taken to his house, where it was broken into and ransacked. He was then taken in his vehicle to the nearby bush where he was set alight in his vehicle. The body was found the same day burnt to ashes."

This was the first murder incident after a man was hacked to death in Marikana West on December 8, last year.

Sabata Petros Chale, 39, was hacked to death by a group of men armed with pangas, spears and knobkerries.

Six men arrested in connection with his murder were expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court on February 24 for bail.

African News Agency

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