Mooihoek residents live in constant fear of criminals
Mooihoek
The community of Mooihoek Village outside Marble Hall are living in constant fear daily following the spiking of crime which is now prevalent in the area.
Residents said they sleep with one eye open in fear of armed robberies and house break-ins, where locals are robbed money and other valuable items in rampant crimes happening in the area lately.
According to the community, the village is haunted by ruthless criminals during the night who randomly rob people on the streets at gun point. The criminals are also said to break-into residents’ houses to rob them money and valuable items including TV sets, cellphones, music systems and other appliances.
They said they continue living in terror as some of the sections in the village are taken as “no go zones” by harbouring criminals who are ready to strike them especially during the night.
In a recent incident that left the whole community reeling in shock and fear resident, when an unknown criminal broke into a 99-year-old elderly Bogoshi Rakoena’s house and tried to rob him his elderly grant money on Friday 3 May.
The pensioner is staying alone and was brutally assaulted during the robbery, ending up admitted in hospital after he was rescued by a community member who went to check on him on Monday morning, three days after the robbery incident.
A community member, Mamokhine Tlaka, said she started to get suspicious after not seeing Rakoena for three days.
“It was unusual and I decided to go check on him to find the gates still locked. I checked with the neighbours and was told the grandpa was last seen on Friday after he collected his grant money,” said a community member,” she said.
Tlaka said they forced entry to the victim’s house together with the neighbours to found him lying helplessly naked on the floor in his bedroom and calling for help.
“He was unable to move at all and we rushed him to hospital where he was treated,” explained Tlaka.
According to Rakoena, the intruders gained entry into his house immediately after he switches off the lights preparing to sleep.
“I became surprised when someone grabbed my throat and ask for my pension money. I couldn’t breathe and immediately collapse on the floor. That’s where I lost consciousness and by that time he was thinking that I was already dead,” he said.
He said he is happy that the intruder left empty headed, however, he is deeply hurt and disappointed to realise that to some people, money is more valuable than a person’s life.
“I believe the government and our traditional leaders must priorities our safety and well-being. I would also like to thank the community members who came to my rescue,” said Rakoena.
Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (EPMLM) Ward Councillor, Koketso Mamahlako, who visited the victim after receiving the news, said he was totally shocked and disappointed about the incident.
“I am shattered to learn that one of our elders was attacked within our community by criminals. The fact that his health was put at risk gave us a wake-up call as a community because most of our elders live alone or with grandchildren,” he said.
Mamahlako said the municipality will urge ward committee members, home based caregivers and the community at large to identify homes where older persons live alone and make them a priority to visit on weekly basis.
“We are aware of criminals targeting our elders on payday. I visited Mr Rakoena two weeks ago to assist him with special voter registration and to hear about his attack left me speechless. I am struggling to accept that there is a child that can do something like this to an old man. I hope the culprit will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he said.
A case was opened with Rakgoadi Police and is under investigation.
