Local artist and Moqhaka employee to appear in court over alleged brutal assault

According to The Citizen, a 28-year-old local artist who is employed by the Moqhaka municipality will appear at the Kroonstad Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after an alleged assault that left his 23-year-old girlfriend in intensive care.

What happened

The Citizen reports that the victim suffered intense blows during a brutal attack at her place of residence late last month, injuries that resulted in her being admitted to the ICU.

Allegations of interference

The Citizen says police have not yet responded to requests for comment on the case. People close to the victim allegedly claim the suspected perpetrator was being shielded by an officer and that the victim was given an incorrect form to fill in, which they say delayed investigations.

Community response

Residents of Kroonstad have planned a march to the courts, wearing black in solidarity with the victim, and are appealing for the alleged perpetrator not to be granted bail, The Citizen reports.

Voices from the community

One resident told The Citizen of their frustration. The comment was published in full:

“He cannot be roaming the streets after this. Working for the municipality and making songs does not make him above the law. We are tired of men getting away with treating our girls like punching bags”.

Next steps

The Citizen reports the accused is due to appear in the Kroonstad Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Comment from police on the allegations described above was not yet available, according to The Citizen.