Two suspects are under police guard after they were wounded while trying to rob a residential place in the same area where students were killed in Botshabelo in Phuthaditjhaba last week.
This was announced by Maj-Gen Arthur Adams, who was speaking at a media briefing organised by University of Free State (UFS) regarding the broader challenge of crime and violence.
Two students from UFS in Phuthaditjhaba and one from Maluti TVET college were killed during a robbery that took place at an off campus residence in Botshabelo.
“The police are in the process of linking the suspects with the incident that happened in Botshabelo where three students were killed. A week after the incident happened a similar incident happened at a residential place which is not far from where the students were killed. The same modus operandi was used. There were three guys who attempted to rob the residence,” Adams said.
He said one of the victims managed to overpower one of the suspects. “The victim managed to shoot and wounded two suspects. This gives us an indication that it must have been the same suspects. The two suspects, who are Lesotho nationals, are currently under police guard,” he said.
Prof Francis Petersen, rector and vice-chancellor of the UFS, said enough was enough. “The role of the university, the police and the society in responding to the pandemic of crime and violence should be clear and decisive. We should talk out against violence in our country. As the citizens we all have a role to play,” he said.
Petersen said a memorial service was going to be held on Thursday for the students who were killed last week.
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