An 80-year-old man was killed in an old age home near Brits last week when fellow residents (aged 92 and 75) attacked him with crutches.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani, the murder followed a fight between three elderly men in an old age home in Jericho. “According to information, 80-year-old Godfrey Thema Motsepe was coming out of the bathroom around 04:00 on Thursday, 30 May, and encountered two fellow residents, Jeremiah Mmatli (75) and Daniel Madumo (92) . The deceased allegedly bumped into one of them who hit him with his crutches. His companion joined in the fight and both assaulted the victim,” Funani said.
“The owner of the old age home was notified and the police were summoned. The victim who had sustained head injuries, was transported to hospital by ambulance but was certified dead on arrival. The two elderly suspects were later arrested for murder.”
Mmatli and Madumo appeared in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Their case was postponed until Friday, 7 June 2024, for formal bail application.The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena expressed his shock at the incident and conveyed his condolences to the victim’s family.
The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West has called for a probe into the incident at the old age home. “We are extremely concerned about the level of intolerance and extreme violent behaviour that suggests possible bullying among the most vulnerable in our society who were admitted to the facility to guarantee their safety and wellbeing,” said Pastor Lesiba Kgwele of the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) Provincial Interim Committee.
“Peaceful co-existence is supposed to characterise the environment at the old age home. While we are confident that the law will take its course, we urge authorities to get to the bottom of the matter and ensure that counselling and psycho-social support services are offered to the residents and staff at the old age home,” he said.