Lekopanye Mooketsi
29 June 2009
Kanye has been gripped by fear after a suspected serial killer murdered six women. The killer struck first last year and claimed his latest victim last Thursday.
Residents are baffled as to who the killer might be and the police have launched a manhunt to nab the criminal. The police have issued a reward of P25,000 for information leading to the arrest of the killer. On Friday, the Commissioner of Police, Thebeyame Tsimako was expected in Kanye to get a briefing from local police officials.
The Station Commander of Kanye Police, Superintendent Mpho Modisaotsile said they have been working round the clock to apprehend the killer or killers. The police are not sure whether the killings are the work of one person or many people.
The first victim was 17-year-old Pelonomi Lekgonyana of Gabotlhoko ward. She was found dead just a day before the Independence Day last year. The killer struck next on March 18 this year. This time he claimed the young life of 14-year-old Ntlhabisang Kwape of Ruele ward who was found on the streets in the morning.
The next victim was another 14-year-old, Etsie Segomotso, who was killed on June 14. Modisaotsile said Segomotso had gone out for entertainment on Saturday when she met her fate.
The serial killer was back in action two days later when he murdered 26-year-old Khumoyame Kebonye of Sebako ward.
Modisaotsile said the latest victim is a 30-year-old female shop assistant in Kanye. It is believed she might have been attacked when she was knocking off on Wednesday night.
Modisaotsile said the wards where the attacks took place are close to each other. But the police chief could not confirm reports that the criminal raped the victims because this has not been verified.
He noted that it is only a doctor who can establish whether someone has been raped. He said the dead women were found fully dressed. Some had visible injuries on their heads.
It is the first time that the Kanye police are dealing with cases of this kind.
Modisaotsile said they are still conducting investigations but he could not reveal whether they are making any headway. He appealed to members of the public to help with investigations. He warned women in Kanye not to go out unaccompanied at night.
After the six murders village residents now dread nightfall. A Form IV student at Seepapitso Senior Secondary School, Nametsang Segopotso, told the Monitor that they are fear for their lives. "I am terrified," she said. Some of the people who were killed live in her ward. Nametsang said their parents have warned them not to venture out at night.
A cellphone airtime vendor said they are living under fear. In typical Sengwaketse tone, the air vendor said "o lori", meaning that the serial killer is driving. She said he must be luring women into his car by proposing love. At the bus stop, there was talk that the serial killer has warned the police that next week, he will be targeting men.
At Gofejane bar, opposite the Kanye shopping mall, discussion will drift to the latest tragic incidents which has hit the village. There were people who felt that the killer might be mentally deranged. Others were concerned that the police are going to have a hard time nabbing the criminal because Kanye has a difficult terrain. It is a hilly area. There was a suggestion that police officers who originate from Kanye should be roped in to assist with the investigations because they know the people better.
Surprisingly, the MP for Kanye South, Omphitlhetse Maswabi, is not concerned about what is happening in his constituency. Maswabi said he did not know anything about the murders except what he heard on Btv. The killings have become part of the village folklore. Stories abound the serial killer with some people claiming that he has been calling the police. One of the stories doing the rounds is that he phoned the police to warn them that he is still going to claim more victims. This has not been verified by the police.
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...the guy is mad...again maybe the police should do the background check on the victims..coz may the guy is targeting specific people with specific qualities