Two residents of Siyandani Village, Abby Baloyi (29) and Ringeta Mabasa (30), briefly appeared in the Giyani magistrate’ court on Monday and Friday last week respectively, on charges of violation of graves. This follows several incidents of vandalism of tombstones which took place at the Siyandani graveyard three weeks ago.

Supt Moatshe Ngoepe, the spokesperson for the police in the Mopani area, said that the residents were going to bury a resident at the graveyard on Saturday, May 10, when they were greeted with a shocking sight. According to the police statement, residents discovered that huge damage had been caused to the tombstones.

They contacted the police immediately. The statement further indicates that the vandals were targeting the most expensive tombstones. Supt Ngoepe revealed that the two suspects were arrested a week after the incident. They were allegedly caught red-handed by local residents while damaging the tombstones with hard objects.

Ngoepe said that the damage caused to the tombstones is estimated at about R300 000. The first suspect, Ringeta Mabasa, briefly appeared in the Giyani Magistrate’s court last Monday. He was not asked to plead and the case was postponed until next Monday, June 2. He was released after paying bail of R1 000.

The second suspect, Abby Baloyi, appeared in the same court last Friday. He was also not asked to plead and the matter was postponed until Wednesday, June 11. He paid bail of R500 in order for him to be released.

Although they had arrested the two suspects, the police have appealed to anyone with information regarding the matter to contact them at any police station or on 0860 010 111.