SOUTH AFRICA: Hundreds of South Africans burn tyres and march in protest, demanding the handover for vigilante justice of a fifth suspect arrested for the rape and murder of two toddlers

Record ID: 319057

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Hundreds of South Africans burn tyres and march in protest, demanding the handover for vigilante justice of a fifth suspect arrested for the rape and murder of two toddlers
  • Date: 18th October 2013
  • Summary: DIEPSLOOT, SOUTH AFRICA (OCTOBER 17, 2013) (REUTERS) WIDE OF DIEPSLOOT INFORMAL SETTLEMENT HOUSE WHERE MURDERED CHILDREN LIVED VICTIMS' FAMILY MEMBERS SEATED INSIDE SHACK FAMILY MEMBER VARIOUS OF WOMAN SEATED WITH A BABY ON A MATTRESS WITH CANDLE BURNING BURNING CANDLE VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS SHOUTING SAYING THEY WANT TO KILL THE PERPETRATORS CHILDREN PLAYING OUTSIDE MORE OF
  • Embargoed: 2nd November 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA24G3P30ULOV9C22P0RHR5254
  • Story Text: Hundreds of South Africans burned tyres outside a township police station on Friday (October 18) and demanded the handover for vigilante justice of a fifth suspect arrested for the rape and murder of two toddlers, a crime that has shocked the nation.
    The mutilated bodies of the two girls aged three and two were discovered in a public toilet in the Johannesburg township of Diepsloot on Tuesday (October 15), three days after they were reported missing.
    A man described by local media as the prime suspect was arrested overnight in another Johannesburg township after police issued an identikit picture and offered a 100,000 rand ($10,200) reward.
    He is likely to be appear in court next week, but Diepsloot residents gathered outside the local police station demanding he be handed over for instant justice.
    Police security around the station was high as protesters chanted and held up placards which read "Don't Rape Us."
    Supporters of South Africa's ruling party, the ANC, were at the demonstrations as were those of opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), despite tensions between them. President Jacob Zuma told South Africa's Sowetan newspaper he condemned the murders and the "gruesome" murders did not belong in South Africa.
    "We are here because we want the suspect. We are not here to fight, nor to support any political party. We just want the suspect, because it is not the first time he has done this, this is the third time he has committed such acts," said Patty Kupa, neighbour to the victims.
    "The situation is difficult for all of us here, As the fathers of Diepsloot community we are saddened by what this man has done because we also have daughters, so what the police should do is to release him to us so we can ask him questions too," added another resident, Taelo Tladi.
    Four other suspects arrested earlier this week appeared in court in Pretoria earlier on Friday, but the hearing was postponed to next Thursday (October 24) to allow for the fifth suspect to also appear in court.
    South Africa has some of the world's highest rates of violent and sexual crime, but the killings have shocked the nation and reignited public debate about policing levels only six months ahead of a general election.
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