South African police arrest 15 people at a #HorrorHouse used for barbaric human torture by a vigilante group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hid9xYoVxS4
It was discovered by Lowveld police. The house was a prison for local residents who were 'tried' by vigilantes in their kangaroo courts.
Fifteen people were arrested in a raid by the SAPS Wednesday. Police are still searching for war councillor Delta Mokwena. He was seen leaving in a helicopter after his last appearance in the local magistrate's court...
Tereasa Ferrari 11 July 2014
ACORNHOEK, South Africa – A house of horrors which was used by vigilantes to illegally try, imprison and torture local residents was raided by police on Wednesday.
Fifteen men and women were arrested at the house and in Acornhoek, during a massive and well-planned police operation which was
launched on Sunday and lasted late into Wednesday night.
A ward councillor who is member of the Bushbuckridge Residents Association Party (BRA) is wanted by police in connection with the crimes.
Evidence at the house shocked experienced police officers and told a story of barbaric human abuse.
Stuck to a wall in the passage of the house was a poster of the Bill of Rights.
The isolated house on the outskirts of the township, is in a dense natural bush.
Six victims who had been tried by the suspects’ kangaroo courts, were locked up and tortured brutally for months before escaping.
The victims, whose ages range from 16 to 46 years, spoke to Lowvelder at Acornhoek Police Station on Wednesday.
A 16-year-old boy said he had been tried in the court for sniffing glue. They then tortured him by chaining him up and whipping him.
He said the suspects also put their captives into holes dug in the ground around the house. He had been kept a prisoner for four months.
On Sunday he and five men escaped from the makeshift prison. Some had been captives for over a year.
A 46-year-old man said he had initiated the escape. He managed to get a young boy who was released from the house to smuggle a cellphone to him.
This man said he was kept and tried by the illegal court for arguing with his wife who had joined the BRA.
He phoned a friend and asked him to bring his vehicle close to the house. The six then crawled through a window and crept to the nearby road. From there they were taken to the local police station where provincial authorities were informed. A plan of action to break-up the vigilante ring and arrest the law breakers was hatched.
The escapees were taken to Tintswalo Hospital for treatment.
PICTURE: Victims crawling away after interview with media.
One victim pulled up his shirt to show the marks of where he had been whipped on his back. The soles of the victims’ feet were so badly beaten they could not walk. All six had wounds and recently healed scars to most of their bodies.
Police are keeping the men in witness protection for their safety.
According to Mr Joseph Mabuza, spokesman for community safety, security and liaison,
the main suspect is still at large. He is the ward councillor of BRA, Mr Delta Mokwena. Police at the scene of the crimes stated he was currently out on bail on charges related to previous similar crimes.
According to them he was recently seen leaving in a helicopter after his last appearance in the local Magistrate’s Court.
The MEC for safety and security, Mr Vusi Shongwe, accompanied police and the media to the scene and said, “We are saying as a government, this is South Africa, and we cannot allow people to take the law into their own hands.”
http://lowvelder.co.za/207181/house-of-horror-uncovered/
(video)
http://lowvelder.co.za/207181/house-of-horror-uncovered/![]()
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