Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ellen Alberts
Published on 2024-04-04 12:27:25
Community members from Komsberg farm in the Ariamsvlei area of the //Kharas region are reeling in shock and disappointment over the brutal assault of a local man, Wesley Basson (30), during the Easter weekend. Basson was allegedly attacked by a group of six men who accused him of theft.
Nicodemus Mbango, the //Kharas regional crime investigations coordinator, stated that the police found Basson tied to a pole at the suspects’ house, where he had been assaulted. Andreas Amunyela (44) was arrested and appeared in the Karasburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was remanded in custody, and his case was postponed to 13 May. Additionally, two more suspects have been arrested and are expected to appear in court soon.
The incident has left residents of Komsberg in disbelief and outrage. Gino Swartbooi, a resident, condemned the use of mob justice and emphasized that there was no evidence to support the accusations against Basson. He described the assault as disgusting and unacceptable, highlighting the dangers of taking the law into one’s own hands.
Mbango revealed that Amunyela had tied Basson up with wires, assaulted him, and then pursued him when he tried to escape. The suspect claimed that Basson had stolen money from his shop, but he never reported the alleged theft. Instead, he resorted to violence, dragging Basson from one location to another and subjecting him to further assault.
Basson recounted the events leading up to the attack, stating that he had been drinking with friends at the shop the night before when the owner accused him of stealing money. Despite his innocence, Basson was violently assaulted by Amunyela, who demanded information about the alleged thieves. Basson’s mother, Anna, expressed her dismay at the mob mentality displayed by the assailants and called for a more just and compassionate approach to resolving disputes within the community.
The harrowing ordeal has sparked a conversation about the dangers of vigilante justice and the importance of upholding the rule of law. Anna urged for collective action to combat such incidents and emphasized the need for community members to support each other rather than resorting to violence.
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