Kimberley - A 20-year-old man appeared in court on Tuesday after he allegedly went on a drug-induced rampage, raping two young teenagers before killing one of them.
The community of Prieska is still in shock following the weekend’s events and the accused’s appearance in the Prieska Magistrate’s Court.
The two attacks were committed within minutes of each other during the early hours of Sunday morning.
During the first incident, a 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by the accused while she was on her way home after visiting her family in Plakkerskamp, a settlement in town.
The girl was allegedly accosted by the accused who threatened her with a stone before dragging her into the bushes where he raped her.
According to information, he threatened to kill the girl if she screamed for help.
After the incident, he allegedly took the child to his mother’s house but she was home at the time and told her son to leave the girl alone.
The young victim managed to escape and ran into a nearby home.
The accused apparently went after the girl, but she was helped by community members who also tried to apprehend the suspect, but he managed to get away.
It is alleged that the accused then raped and killed a 15-year-old boy, Elrico Neels, whose body was discovered in a ditch at the back of the Gariep High School in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The accused allegedly told the victim’s cousin that he had killed the boy.
According to Elrico’s mother, Lena Neels, her nephew told her that her son had been killed.
“My nephew was at a tavern when the accused allegedly told him that he had killed my son by hitting him several times over the head with a stone,” Neels said.
The accused also apparently threatened to dispose of the body by setting it alight.
“He offered to show my nephew, who did not believe him, where the body was. My nephew, together with a friend, went to see if it was true. They split up and searched for the body. When they found it, they decided not to tell the accused because they were afraid that he might set it alight. They told him that they could not find anything.
“My nephew came to my house between midnight and one o’clock on Sunday morning and told me that Elrico’s body was lying in the bushes. He then rushed to his father, who lives nearby, and told him to call the police. The police were already on the scene when we arrived.
“Elrico and his sister left earlier in the day (Saturday) to visit family members. I asked his sister where he was when she returned home later that day and she said that he had gone with another guy,” she said.
Neels also claims that the accused’s mother told her that her son was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he allegedly committed the crime.
The councillor for the area, Dimakatso Molepo, said they were planning a march to the court next Friday to highlight the seriousness of crime in the town.
“We want to tell the magistrate that enough is enough and we want him to act more harshly against criminals. Criminals who commit serious crimes get bail of R300 while family members have to deal with the loss of their loved ones. We need to come together and not allow criminals to control our town,” Molepo said.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant Donald Mdhluli, confirmed that the police were investigating the incident.
“The police in Prieska are investigating a case of murder following the death of a 15-year-old boy at about 1am on Sunday morning. The body was discovered by three boys near the Gariep High School in Burger Street.
“The circumstances surrounding this crime and the motive for the murder are under investigation,” Mdhluli said.
* Comments have been closed to protect the identity of the minor mentioned in the article.
DFA