GIYANI – The police in the Lowveld are investigating several criminal cases following incidents that took place in the area over the past weekend. Seventeen youths, whose ages range from 15 to 18, were arrested for public violence, malicious damage to property and pointing a person as a wizard at Mahwibiding village on Monday morning.

The incident relating to the case took place at Mahwibiding Village near Tzaneen on Sunday afternoon at about 14:00. According to the spokesperson of the police in the area, Insp Moatshe Ngoepe a group of youths went wild and proceeded to the home of a local traditional healer.

They allegedly burnt his two houses to ashes. The traditional healer called the police who quickly rushed to the scene. The situation took an ugly turn when the police arrived at the scene. The group turned against the police and stoned six of their vehicles and thus causing serious damage to the vehicles.

According to the police statement the youths were accusing the traditional healer for practicing witchcraft. The youths were still to appear before the Naphuno magistrate’s court at the time of going to press.

In another incident, the police have arrested a 15-year old boy for raping a 4-year old girl at Namakgale Township last Saturday.

The incident took place last Friday afternoon. According to the police statement the victim and the suspect are neighbours. The statement indicates that on the day of the incident the accused has called the victim to his home. At that stage, the victim was playing in the street.

The statement further indicates that on arrival at the accused’s home he allegedly grabbed her and forced her into the room where he allegedly raped her repeatedly. The victim’s private parts were severely damaged during the ordeal. He was also still to appear in the Namakgale magistrate’s court at the time of going to press.