The community of Coligny in North West claim that the death of Serame ‘Tololo’ Mosiatana has racial undertones because his body was found at Rietvlei Farm, allegedly owned by the employer of the two white men who were charged and then acquitted for the 2017 ‘Sunflower murder of Matlhomola Mosweu.
One of the residents, Tlhopho Maretlwa, alleged that Mosianata was killed for wood just like Mosweu was killed for sunflowers.
“These are the same people that killed a young boy for sunflowers. Now they have killed another person for wood.
“Our lives are really in danger. Our children are not safe in this area yet nothing is ever done. black people cannot continue to live in the injustices of white people,” he said.
The 32-year-old Mosiatana went missing on Sunday after he was busy collecting logs for a structure he was building. His body was found today (Thursday) at the farm which is near the Scotland Informal Settlement.
Rietvlei farm is owned by the employers of Pieter Doorewaard and Philip Schutte who were found guilty but later acquitted on charges of the murder of Matlhomola Mosweu in 2017, whom they accused of stealing Sunflower worth R80.
Mosiatana’s girlfriend Ritah Tau, said they last saw him on Sunday when he went to fetch wood at a bush near Rietvlei Farm.
“Tololo went to the bushes on Sunday [01 January 2023] to get the first pole then went back for the second one and never returned when he went to get the third one.
“Then we went to open a case of a missing person on Monday. His body, which was almost decomposing, was found today by the police.
“We are really saddened by his passing. We want to see justice prevail against those responsible for his death. We call on the police to investigate because some of the people who went to the scene of the incident say that he had gunshot wounds.
“He was the one providing for us. He was working at the farms providing for me and our child. And now that he is gone, I don’t know how I’m going to survive alone. I don’t know how I’m going to provide for our child,” Tau said.
A spokesperson for the community Mokano Molefe called for police leadership to visit their area to address their concerns.
“We are really concerned about what happened in the sense that we want the Police Minister, Bheki Cele, or the provincial police commissioner, Sello Kwena to come here. We want justice and we need answers. This is the fourth murder to occur in that area yet no one has been arrested.
“People go to those bushes to look for wood and disappear, then later bodies are discovered. We don’t know what is happening hence we are looking for answers.
“I mean if really people are killed for fetching wood in that area, then why is whoever is against it not opening a case with the police instead of killing people?” he said.
Meanwhile, North West police spokesperson, Captain Sam Tselenyane, refuted claims that Mosiatana was shot.
“We can confirm that the partially decomposed body of Mosiatana was discovered at Rietvlei Farm. However, the body had no visible injuries and we cannot confirm that the deceased had a bullet wound as his body still has to undergo post-mortem processes.
The police will continue with investigations,” Tselenyana said.
