Zeerust – The case against two men accused of starving and beating five boys to death at an initiation school in Zeerust in the North West was postponed to March for further investigation.
The accused 19-year-old Obakeng Segwabe and 21-year-old Olebogeng Mafora appeared in the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Segwabe and Mafora have abandoned the right to apply for bail and will be in custody until their appearance in court on 18 March 2024.
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“They are facing five counts of murder, two of violation of corpses and one of defeating the ends of justice,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in North West division Henry Mamothame.
“The deceased were allegedly starved, and beaten to death, and subsequently their bodies were burnt,” Mamothame said.
Another man, 19-year-old Koketso Mmutlane, was arrested for defeating the ends of justice.
He allegedly influenced Segabe and Mafora to lie about the legality of the initiation school and its activities including the deaths.
Mmutlane is expected to appear in the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on 9 February 2024.
He is out on warning.
