Initiation School Tragedy: 2 Suspects Face Murder Charges in North West
In a tragic incident that has shaken the North West province, two murder suspects, Obakeng Segwabe, 19, and Olebogeng Mafora, 21, appeared before the Lehurutshe magistrate’s court on Monday.
The duo faces charges related to the deaths of five initiates at a North West initiation school.
Initiation Schools have ever been at the center of controversy in South Africa
The deaths have revealed a disturbing pattern of violence within the community.
Initially arrested for the murder of two individuals last year, Segwabe and Mafora became suspects after human skeletal remains were found in a plastic bag near Mosweu village in Zeerust.
The victims were identified as initiates at a North West initiation school, marking the beginning of a harrowing investigation.
Further investigations by a multidisciplinary team linked the suspects to three additional murder cases.
The decomposed bodies were discovered between December 2023 and January 2024, shedding light on a more extensive and horrifying situation at the initiation school.
The police added three more murder charges to the initial case, reflecting the severity of the crimes.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone emphasized that the charges may extend beyond murder, potentially including contravention of the Customary Initiation Act, 2021.
The arrests were made in Ntsweletsoku village, thanks to the efforts of a collaborative team of detectives and visible policing units.
Bail application and ongoing initiation school murder investigations
The accused, Segwabe and Mafora, were remanded in custody and are set to reappear in court on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, for a bail application.
Meanwhile, further investigations, including the identification of the deceased through DNA, are underway. The names of the victims will only be confirmed after this process.
The investigative team also arrested Koketso Mmutlane, 19, for allegedly defeating the ends of justice.
Mmutlane is accused of influencing Segwabe and Mafora to lie about the legality of the initiation school and its activities, including concealing the deaths.
Mmutlane appeared in court on Monday and is expected to return on February 9.
North West provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Sello Kwena, commended the efforts of the arresting officers and the multidisciplinary team.
He praised their dedication to uncovering the truth and bringing the perpetrators to justice in this deeply distressing case.
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