Kimberley - Community members are preparing to embark on a protest in Barkly West, calling for the person responsible for the alleged hit-and-run death of a 23-year-old homeless man to face the full might of the law.
Eyewitnesses claimed that Obakeng Mosinki was hit by a quad bike, after which his body was dragged and dumped inside a cage containing refuse, at about 6am on Wednesday morning.
“His body was found in a back alley behind the U-Save Shoprite supermarket a few metres from the rubbish cage. He never bothered anyone, he would make a fire or cook a potjie by burning boxes and was always laughing to himself. He slept and stayed in the alley,” one of the eyewitnesses claimed.
They added that the suspect fled the scene after the incident.
“We are all convinced that the suspect, who was driving the quad bike, is a prominent businessman in Barkly West.”
Petrus Thelo, who claims to have witnessed the incident, stated that Mosinki died on impact.
“He was bleeding profusely and it appeared as if his ribs were broken.”
Dikgatlong ward 2 councillor Bentley Bezuidenhout condemned the incident. “Emotions are running high in the community as they want justice for his death.”
A grieving Betty Mosinki indicated that she had last seen her son on Tuesday.
“He came by to ask for some food. I always told him to sleep in my shanty and have a bath but he preferred to return to the alley, which he regarded as his home,” said Betty.
“He was well-known and liked, and business people in the area gave him a cup of tea, a sandwich, clothes and shoes regularly.”
She stated that she had cleaned up her son’s blood after the incident.
Police spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana, said the Barkly West police had opened an inquest docket into the death of a 23-year-old man.
“At this stage we cannot speculate on the exact cause of the man’s death. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause,” said Tawana.
He requested any person with the information that could assist with the police investigation to contact the investigating officer, Constable Kgosietsile Taolo, on 082 4589 670 or 053 531 600.