Suspects arrested following mine workers’ bus bombing remanded in custody
TUBATSE – Four suspects arrested for the murder of six mine workers at Driekop village outside Burgersfort last Monday night, 02 April 2018 were remanded in custody until today, 12 April 2018 when they appeared before the Praktiseer Magistrates Court on Friday 06 April 2018.
The suspects were arrested following the torching of a bus ferrying Modikwa Platinum mine workers resulting in the death of six and leaving 28 hospitalised.
The four suspects were all arrested on Wednesday 04 April 2018 at various locations following the tragedy. Sipho Khumalo (28) from Driekop village was arrested at the his village, Aubrey Remos Tjie (35) was nabbed at Riba Cross village, Thabo Mokgala (33) from Sehlaku village was arrested in Mandagshoek and Philimon Makwana (34) from Leolo village was arrested in the area’s Mohlake section.
Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, said the suspects were facing six counts of murder, attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
Mojapelo said all five suspects including Kgaogelo Moime who appeared alone on Thursday 05 April 2018 would again appear before the Mecklenburg Magistrates Court also today, 12 April 2018.
The 29 year-old Moime was arrested on Tuesday 03 April 2018 at Balotsaneng, Mandagshoek and was remanded in custody when he appeared before the Mecklenburg Magistrates Court on Thursday 05 April 2018.
Police said the bus was carrying 50 mine workers of which 28 were taken to hospital after suffering burn wounds. The deceased were four men and two women.
Police preliminary investigations indicated that a Segweka Bus Service bus was busy collecting the mine workers going for a night shift between 20:00 and 21:00 on Monday when it stopped at its Driekop point, two unknown suspects went on board and set it alight using a highly flammable liquid. They then jumped out, leaving behind the bus already engulfed in flames.
