DUMISANE LUBISI, Dendron | Wednesday
EIGHT members of a Northern Province rugby club have been arrested in connection with the death of a 19-year-old boy, who was shot and killed while hunting rabbits on a farm with his two friends.
Northern Province police spokesman Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo said the members of the Noordelikes Rugby Club in Pietersburg, aged between 19 to 34, were arrested for the murder of Tshepo Motlokwane, 19. He was found dead, along with five dogs, on a farm near the small northern town of Dendron.
Mojapelo said Motlokwane and two friends went hunting rabbits with their dogs and were confronted by the rugby players.
The players allegedly fired several shots at the boys and they ran in different directions. One of the victims was admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds and the third victim escaped unhurt.
Police also recovered several rifle cartridges at the scene. They then searched a wider area and when they returned to where Motlokwane’s body was initially found, it was missing.
Pretoria divers are expected to join in the search for his body, believed to have been dumped in the crocodile-infested Arabie Dam.
More arrests are expected, and the eight suspects are expected to appear in the Pietersburg Magistrate’s Court this week. – African Eye News Service