By Staff Reporter
QWAQWA- Three men accused of killing five family members and allegedly injuring 11-month-old child have appeared before Phuthaditjhaba magistrate court on Monday and are expected to be back on April 19 for bail application.
This follows a reported murder of five family members at Marakong in the Eastern Free State where police launched a 72 hours investigation. Within stipulated time police made a breakthrough when they arrest Seliom Tsoeute, 20 On Wednesday.
Leponesa Tsoeute ,24 and Thabo Mguni,43 were arrested two day later on Friday .
The trio are also facing alleged murder, attempted murder, arson and defeating the ends of justice while the fourth accused Mothae Tsoeute, 41, is expected to appear on April 15.
The four allegedly attacked and murdered five family members on Sunday April 4, only an 11-month old baby survived the brutal killing of his siblings, but he too was allegedly hit with a knobkerrie but was rushed to a local hospital where he is being receiving medical attention.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo, the four bodies were found burnt while one was recovered with a gunshot wound.
“On April ,4, 2021, at about 03;30, police received a report of people who had been burnt inside the house. On arrival the body of a female Moliehi Thoabala ,38, was found lying outside the house with gun wound, another body of her husband Safolo Mofokeng , 36, was found burnt to death in a mud house.”
She said three more bodies were found in another house .
“In another house, bodies of Relebohile Lemeko, 48 and her daughter Masabata Lemeko 25 and son Tatolo Lemeko 22 were found burnt in a shack . Only Lemeko ‘s 11 months old grandson survived after he was allegedly hit by assailants with a knobkerrie on the nose and is receiving medical attention at a local hospital,” Mbabo said.
