Warrant Officer Koketso Mareka, 40, appeared in the Zeerust Magistrate’s Court on Friday, May 24, 2024, and was charged with kidnapping, assault and attempted murder. She was granted bail in the sum of R2000.00 and her next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, June 27, 2024.
The charges against Mareka stem from an incident on Saturday evening, April 28, 2024, at Ikageleng Location, Zeerust, where a 24-year-old victim was allegedly assaulted by members of the community.
The Public Order Police (POP) were called to rescue the victim who was subsequently taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
In another incident in the early hours of Sunday, April 29, 2024, a 25-year-old man from Ikageleng was attacked by an angry mob who accused him of raping elders.
He was attacked, sprayed with pepper spray, stoned and stabbed. He suffered serious injuries and was also taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The police investigation led to the arrest of Mareka after she was identified as one of the alleged perpetrators. Further arrests are expected.
The provincial police chief, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, emphasized that it is illegal and unacceptable to take the law into one’s own hands and that such acts will not be tolerated.
