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Modimong village residents form own security structures following brutal murder of community member

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The community of Modimong village near Taung in the North West has formed their own security structures that patrol the village every night. This follows the brutal murder of a 32-year-old resident.

Tshepang Seelo was killed by two suspects known to the community and his body was found in a river three days later.

Modimong is a quiet village located 10 kilometres from the main village of Taung.

Residents had their normally peaceful life disrupted by the brutal death of one of their own. Seelo and the woman he was out with that evening, Tsholanang Khokonyane were allegedly attacked by two suspects while they were on their way home.

“Two boys came and started fighting us. One grabbed me and the other grabbed Tshepang. The other was busy fighting him, while the other kicked me and told me to leave. They continued to fight him. So, I ran and went to one of the attacker’s parental home. I heard a voice, but no one opened. I went to the nearest tavern to seek help. I explained the incident to the residents. We checked everywhere but he was nowhere to be found,” says Khokonyane.

His mother Neo Seelo says his death is a tremendous loss to the family.

“As the mother of Tshepang, I am very hurt about what happened to my son. And he was a breadwinner. Now, I am asking myself when I am going back to work, who will look after my mother. As for those who were arrested, I want life sentence,” says Neo Seelo.

Community members went on the rampage soon after the incident, torching houses believed to be those of the suspects. They say the police failed them.

Gaobusetse Kanyane, a community member in Modimong village, says, “The police failed to assist us. As the community, we took a decision to assist the Seelo family to find their family member. From this point forward, we will not be seeing this kind of horrific acts happening because the body of the deceased was mutilated and dumped in a stream.”

Spokesperson for the Police, Colonel Amanda Funani says two suspects, who handed themselves over to the police soon after the incident, are expected to apply for bail in the Taung Magistrate’s Court.

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