East Rand – praag.org

Horrific find of 8-year old’s body on the East Rand

The partly burnt body of an eight-year-old boy has been found in a field in the Ramaphosa informal settlement on the East Rand, police said on Tuesday.

“The boy was found dead with socks stuffed in his mouth and a used condom was found next to his body,” said Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng.

The eight-year-old was reported missing on Monday at the Reiger Park police station.

He was last seen on Sunday evening playing with friends in the area.

His body was found on Monday afternoon by a man walking past the field in Ramaphosa. He alerted the police.

“The body matched the description of the boy who was reported missing earlier on Monday,” Mofokeng said.

A case of rape and murder had been opened. No arrests had been made.

The police appealed for any information that could help them find the perpetrator. – Sapa

Two blacks arrested for murder on East Rand

Two men have been arrested in Katlehong for the murder of an Ekurhuleni (East Rand) metro police volunteer, metro police said on Wednesday.

The men, aged 25 and 26, were arrested at 10pm on Tuesday in the Mosiliki and Mopedi sections of Katlehong, said Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago.

“Both suspects were handed over to the police at Katlehong North police station,” he said.

The men allegedly shot dead the metro police volunteer last Tuesday in Katlehong.

Police were looking for the weapon used in the shooting.

The men were expected to appear soon in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. – Sapa

‘MK veterans’ trash Civic building

A group of people calling themselves military veterans trashed and looted the Germiston Civic Centre on Monday, the municipality said.

“We had a bunch of people masquerading as former MK (Umkhonto we Sizwe) members,” said Ekurhuleni mayoral spokesman Zweli Dlamini.

“Surprisingly, some of them were in their mid-20s. They were not even born during times of the struggle.”

The building accommodates the executive mayor, speaker, chief whip, staff and the other political parties.

About 100 people stormed into the building, looted and vandalised property.

Dlamini said they trashed furniture, computers and fridges and stole some items.

“We are still quantifying the damage. The thing is the building had just undergone refurbishment, so we are not sure exactly how much damage we are looking at,” he said.

The attackers assaulted some staff members.

“Some staff members had to be taken in for counselling, while others were taken home,” said Dlamini.

It was unclear what the group wanted.

“If we knew what they wanted, we could have spoken to them, but they just stormed into the building,” he said.

“They did not even give us their demands.”

Dlamini said about 60 people were arrested.

They were expected to appear in court soon on charges of theft, vandalism, trespassing and assault.

Dlamini said officials were still operating from the vandalised building and that service delivery would not be hampered. – Sapa

Four illegal miners found dead on East Rand

Four illegal miners died and 11 were wounded during a clash in a mine shaft in Brakpan North, Ekurhuleni emergency management services said on Monday.

“We’ve counted four [dead miners], but there’s a possibility that the number could rise,” said spokesman Rogers Mamaila.

Mamaila said shots were fired during an underground clash between two groups of illegal miners.

“We rescued 11 people with various injuries, including gunshot wounds, and some needing amputations,” Mamaila said.

Emergency workers were still at the scene. -Sapa

Nine killed in East Rand crash

Nine people, including two children, were killed in an accident on the R25 near Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg, emergency workers said on Monday.

Six other people were injured when a light delivery vehicle and another car collided head-on, said Netcare 911 spokeswoman Santi Steinmann.

The accident occurred on Sunday at around 11pm.

The injured people were treated on the scene before being transported to nearby hospitals.

Steinmann said police were investigating the cause of the accident. – Sapa

Four Nigerians die in gang-style shooting in Benoni

Four Nigerians died when a group of men opened fire on them in Benoni, on the East Rand, police said on Friday.

Five men were in a Volkswagen Golf on Thursday evening when a car stopped in front of them, Constable Tim Masilela said.

A group of men got out of the car and opened fire, killing two men in the Golf.

A wounded passenger tried to run away, but collapsed and died a few metres from the scene. A fourth man died later in hospital. The fifth man in the car was not hurt.

“The motive behind the shooting is unknown. Police are still investigating,” Masilela said.

Last Saturday, three Nigerians were killed in a cellphone shop in Voortrekker Street, Benoni. They were inside the shop when five armed men entered around 6pm, Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said at the time.

The five opened fire, killing two of the customers, both 38, inside the shop, and the third man, 40, at the shop door.

The gunmen fled in a green BMW. They were also believed to be Nigerians, said Dlamini. He said the police found spent cartridges at the scene, and a licensed firearm belonging to one of the men who died. Nothing was stolen.

“The motive for the killing is still unknown but a possibility that the victims were a rival group is being investigated,” he said. – Sapa