Residents of Jan Kempdorp and surrounds in the North West have
rallied in the wake of the death of a 6-year-old boy who was stabbed
while defending his mother from a would-be rapist.Members of crime-fighting organisation Wanya Tsotsi held a prayer meeting in the small town, about 100km from Kimberly, on Thursday evening.
Around 200 people attended. "We went there with the family to show support and to tell the community of Jan Kempdorp we should not wait for things of this nature to happen," said the organisation's chairperson Tebogo Obusitse on Friday.
Residents asked the organisation to help them set up a community policing forum as crime was rife.
"Most criminals are people that they know. That is how the mother even identified her attacker."
Residents 'scared'
Kutlwano Garesape was killed with a broken bottle after a man attacked his mother while they were walking to Taudiarora Primary School a week ago.
His mother apparently assisted with the school's feeding scheme. Obusitse said the route they took was a shortcut between two villages. "Most of the residents are too scared to use that route anymore because they are scared of what might happen, since even a 6-year-old was stabbed."
The boy's funeral will be held in Taung in the North West on Saturday and the man charged with his murder, Tefelo Dikole, is expected to return to court on Monday. "Our leadership will be there protesting. We can't just sit and watch," said Obusitse.