Lesotho family short of funds to bury man allegedly beaten to death by security guards

Abraham Rapita, 42, died of his injuries in Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg after he was allegedly beaten to death by four security guards in September. File Picture: David Ritchie

Abraham Rapita, 42, died of his injuries in Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg after he was allegedly beaten to death by four security guards in September. File Picture: David Ritchie

Published Oct 10, 2021

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DURBAN - THE wife of a Lesotho man who was allegedly beaten to death in Pietermaritzburg described his death as a double blow as she had no money to get his body back home to be buried.

Abraham Rapita, 42, died of his injuries in Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.

It is alleged Rapita was assaulted by four security guards on Orthman Road in Mountain Rise, on September 27.

Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said four suspects aged between 22 and 46 were arrested for murder. She said the suspects alleged that the victim had attempted to rob them.

“On September 27 at 5.50pm, Mountain Rise police received a complaint of assault on Orthman Road in Mountain Rise and proceeded to the scene. On arrival they found the victim, 30, with injuries, and he was taken to hospital for medical attention, but he succumbed to his injuries.”

Rapita’s wife Makatleho said losing her husband was a double blow as she was unemployed and left with three children, aged 9, 13 and 21 years old.

“My husband and I walked together to town on that day. We were both unemployed, so we usually travel to Jumbo in Sobantu area to look for piece jobs. He told me was meeting someone his friend told him about, and that he would come by midday,” said Makatleho.

She said she became worried when she couldn’t get hold of him on the phone all day.

“My neighbours suggested that I go and look for him in morgues and hospitals. I was sceptical at first, but I did. I went to different clinics and hospitals praying to find him. Little did I know that I would find his cold body,” said Makatleho.

She said she was shocked when the Edendale Hospital staff told her Rapita had been brought in by the police.

“If I was the one lying dead my family and my neighbours would have believed that I attacked the security guards, but not my husband. My husband was a peaceful man. He would have never tried to rob anyone, let alone four security guards who carried guns.

“How can the police believe one unarmed person would try to rob four people?” asked Makatleho.

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