Seven individuals are in police custody following the alleged murder of a 23-year-old man in Petsana Township near Reitz. The victim, Katleho Mahlaba, was accused of stealing an electricity cable and selling it for a mere R30.
According to police reports, the incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, 24 September 2025, at approximately 22:25. A group of people allegedly assaulted Mahlaba and another young man, accusing them of the theft. During the attack, Mahlaba was severely beaten. The perpetrators then reportedly dumped his body in his family’s yard, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
A second victim managed to escape the assault and alerted the authorities.
The Reitz South African Police Service (SAPS) initiated an immediate investigation, which led to the tracing and arrest of seven suspects. The suspects, whose ages range from 27 to 39, are scheduled to appear before the Reitz Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 29 September 2025. They will face formal charges of murder.
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