Nine suspects who were arrested for allegedly setting fire to a nine-room house at Matangari village in 2022 appeared in a packed Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Friday, 12 January.
Tshiphiri Daba, Rolivhuwa Mukhotho, Mashudu Mphaphuli, Idani Ndou, Thivhusiwi Musandiwa, Orifha Mukhotho, Norman Siebathavha, Shumani Mundalamo and Maanda Mukhotho are alleged to have been the instigators of a mob that went to the house of Mr Mmbetsheleni Daba on 6 September 2022, right after they had attended a meeting with their traditional leader and the royal council. They allegedly first started breaking all the windows before setting the house on fire, which burnt to the ground.
The exact details of what had been discussed during the meeting at the royal house are not known, but the actions of the community members that followed seemed to be in response to the rape of a 26-year-old woman the previous week. The woman was allegedly raped by an illegal immigrant from Zimbabwe, who was beaten to death by an angry crowd a week later. Daba was accused of harbouring the Zimbabwean national.
Daba's 13-year-old son, Lavhelesani, said he was shocked when, upon returning home that night, he found a big crowd of people descending on the family home. He said he was terrified and hid behind the fence while he watched his home being engulfed by fire. "I lost all my clothes, including my books and school uniform. I also saw people stealing live chickens," he said shortly after the incident.
Daba was apparently home when the attack on his home started but miraculously escaped the inferno. Community members who witnessed the incident said the police had been informed of the crowd's intentions to burn the house down but had done nothing.
Eight suspects were arrested in 2023. The ninth suspect, Idani Ndou, was arrested last week.
State prosecutor Mpho Mufamadi told the court on Friday that the state was ready for the trial. The date will be decided when the suspects make their next appearance on 26 January. All suspects were released without bail.