Tension due to protests condemning the murder of Thebe Mothibi, owner of the By Hoek Lounge, is lingering in the streets of Phahameng and Rocklands, Bloemfontein, despite order being restored by officials after chaotic scenes erupted.
This volatile atmosphere has been building since the local businessman was shot on the premises of his business in the early hours of Sunday (05/02) morning.
According to the police, a bystander was struck by a stray bullet, but survived.
Mothibi’s murder has sparked outrage throughout two residential areas of the Mangaung Metro.
The outrage was directed at Lesotho nationals and vendors selling fruit and vegetables, as well as taxi operators doing business with mostly five-seater vehicles, commonly known as four-plus-one.
As of early Monday morning, they were purged by angry community members as news went viral that the prime suspects connected to the killing of Mothibi originate from Lesotho.
Angry community members looted and shut down numerous stalls run by Lesotho nationals.
Those with five-seater taxis were forced to stop operating, and had no alternative but to abandon the commuters they were providing a service to.
The protest surrounding Mothibi’s death saw community members clash with members of the Public Order Policing (POP) unit, who had been deployed to restore order.
A contributing factor to the community’s drastic response is that the slain businessman was also the treasurer of the Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC) movement.
Lt. Col Thabo Covane, spokesperson for the police in the Mangaung Metro, has confirmed that the three male suspects arrested regarding the murder were in the country illegally.
He said the men faced charges of murder, attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice and being in the Republic of South Africa without proper documentation.
The suspects are: Sabata Mpatsi (30), Thabo Masithela (26) and Tshokolo Malebo (33).
The three men briefly appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. They are remanded in custody.
The case has been postponed to 13 February for further investigation.
The charge of attempted murder pertains to the bystander who was struck by one of the stray bullets.
Mothibi was reportedly shot several times, apparently by the 30-year-old armed assailant.
Covane said Mpatsi, who allegedly shot and killed Mothibi, was traced and arrested in Mafora, while the other two were arrested as accomplices to the murder and attempted murder incident.
