20 ‘Born To Kill’ gang members to stand trial in May

The alleged gang-group members, Born To Kill (BTK), will stand trial in May after losing bail application for their massive gang-related cases.

A group of 20 Botshabelo’s Born-To-Kill gangsters are remanded in police custody, after the Bloemfontein High Court denied bail for all the accused on Wednesday last week.

According to Mangaung Metro police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane, charges against the group includes of murder, rape, house robbery, theft, arson, and malicious damage to property.

“The group was arrested by the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit along with Boithuso police station following a spree of attacks on houses believed to belong to Maroma Gang members,” said Covane.

On Monday night of 16 November 2020, a group suspected to be BKT Gang members visited a house in R-Section, Botshabelo.

“Their arrival was that of a violent nature as they kicked down the door and assaulted an African male with machetes. The victim managed to escape but was later admitted to the hospital with serious injuries,” detailed Covane.

“The bloodthirsty gang then proceeded to their next target in W-Section. Upon their arrival, their targeted Maroma Gang member escaped, but his brother stayed and hid in the bedroom. That however did not stop the attackers from carrying on with their ‘attack-to-kill mission.

“The brother then attempted to escape through a window, but the gang had surrounded the premises and fatally assaulted him.

“In the house was also an African female who the gang raped,” reported Covane.

A street away from the second incident was a trio sought by the gang.

“They sat watching movies on a laptop in a shack at the back of a house when the assailants arrived. Luckily, the trio managed to make a narrow escape, leaving behind their belongings.

“Their move became made it easy for the gang to rob the laptop and three cellphones from the house.

“The BTK Gang members seemed determined to cause a night of terror in Botshabelo as they proceeded to the fourth house,” explained Covane.

Lieutenant Colonel Covane stated that few other houses received attacks and one victim ended up at a hospital with severe injuries.

“At one house, victims fled in a car and went to the police station to report the attacks,” added Covane.

At the last house, the gang attacked a matriculant while studying but managed to escape. The gang robbed him of the study material.

“Several cases were opened at Boithuso police station and a Provincial Task Team was formed,” said Covane.

The police made an arrest of all 21 group members.

The High Court referred one docket back to the Regional Court.

The trial for these suspects will continue in the Bloemfontein High Court next month, on 13 May.