The vehicle that was used to abduct the hawker was seized by police.
Image: SAPS
Two suspects who allegedly attacked a man for selling fruit at a local petrol station in the Free State are expected to appear in the Odendaalsrus Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The 27-year-old man was kidnapped and assaulted before he died of his injuries.
The provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Palesa Thabana said the incident took place on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at about 8pm.
“An altercation ensued between a fuel station employee and the hawker over selling fruits on the garage premises. The victim then left the premises. He was allegedly pursued by the two suspects and an unknown African male,” Thabana said.
The men loaded the hawker onto a bakkie before taking him back to the local petrol station in Odendaalsrus.
“On arrival at the petrol station, the suspects allegedly assaulted him with a knobkerrie and sjambok. The victim was later taken by an ambulance from his home to a local hospital before being transferred to a regional hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries,” Thabana said.
Police opened a murder and kidnapping case.
The suspects, aged 34 and 40, were subsequently tracked down and arrested for murder and kidnapping on Friday, March 21, in Odendaalsrus.
“Police also seized the Isuzu bakkie allegedly used in the commission of crime. Investigations are still ongoing,” Thabana said.
In a separate incident last week, the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein sentenced a 57-year-old man to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his sister and was further handed 15 years for the attempted murder of his stepmother.
The incident occurred when Mofihli Pickson Rapabi went to visit his 81-year-old stepmother, Nozizathu Rapabi in Poeleng village, Qwaqwa.
He had travelled from Lenasia, Johannesburg.
Upon his arrival, she welcomed him and prepared a meal. Sophie Buthelezi, 46, who was also visiting at the time later joined them in the kitchen. A confrontation erupted when Sophie did not greet Mofihli, prompting their mother to inquire about the situation.
Sophie accused Mofihli of abusing their mother, which led him to draw a firearm and shoot her in the forehead and this was followed by a second shot to the side of her head.
After retrieving an item from a bedroom, he returned and shot his stepmother in the neck. Before leaving, he fired a third execution-style shot into Sophie’s mouth.
Despite her severe injuries, the elderly stepmother managed to crawl to the gate to seek help.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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