12 Aug 2018

The family whose son is a suspect in a murder case has expressed fear for their safety following an incident in which one of their houses was burnt to ashes by unknown culprits.

Their son, who is currently in police custody, is linked to an incident in which a decomposed body of a 22-year-old woman was found in the bush in the outskirts of Moeti ward last Saturday. The suspect was arrested the same day while police investigations continue. While the family was still reeling in shock following the arrest of their son, their traditional hut got burnt on Thursday night around 12 midnight while sleeping in another house.

One member of the family, Ms Annah Oduetse, who is the mother to the suspect, confirmed in an interview the arson incident, noting that the gutted hut was used by his son who was arrested in connection with a murder case. She expressed fear for their lives, saying the culprits might come back and burn her one-roomed house which she lived in with her two children aged below seven years.

“We are not safe here because the person who burnt my son’s house might come back to accomplish his/her mission.

It is clear that he/she wanted to kill us,” she said. Ms Oduetse said they had raised the issue of safety with the police who in return assured them that they would patrol the area.

 Narrating the ordeal, the mother explained that the arson happened at night while sleeping and that the neighbours alerted them. She said by the time they woke up, it was already late to control the fire as the roofing had collapsed and everything in the house burnt to ashes, adding that fortunately there was no one in the house.

Another member, Mr Tendekane Oduetse concurred with his sister with regard to their safety and security. He wished the police could intensify security as the burning of the house signaled danger.

For his part, Senior Superintendent Peter Gochela confirmed that they were investigating a suspected arson incident in which a house was gutted by fire by unknown persons. He said it was reported that the house belonged to a suspect in a murder case involving a woman who was found dead in the bush at Moeti ward, adding that they could not confirm whether the incident had a connection with the suspect case or it was coincidence.

He said all property inside the house was destroyed by the fire while the scene was disturbed by members of the public who came to witness. He said they had engaged a team of fire experts to establish the cause of the fire. ENDS