Angry residents march to Mmabatho Police Station

By Thabiso Gaselebelwe

Caption: A woman who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Kedilatile Seitshiro.

Residents of Montshioa township outside Mahikeng marched to the Mmabatho Police Station to protest the release of a 44-year-old man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Kedilatile Seitshiro, in March this year.

The protest follows the release of the accused on Monday, November,3, by the Molopo Magistrate’s Court. Residents expressed shock and anger over the decision.

They demanded answers from the station commander but were unable to meet with him, as he is currently on leave. Despite this, residents vowed to continue fighting for justice on behalf of the deceased’s family.

The victim’s  brother, Itumeleng Seitsiwe,  said the family has lost confidence in South Africa’s justice system. “We are stunned to see the accused released and roaming the streets freely, as if nothing happened, even though we lost our sister,” he said.

He explained that the accused was released because DNA samples and the case docket went missing. He also accused the investigating officer, of not responding to calls while the family was attempting to follow up on the case.

Residents believe the justice system in South Africa is biased and called for immediate reforms.

The anger in Montshioa dates back to March 2025, when residents set fire to a suspect’s home following the arrest of a man linked to Kedilatile Sarah Seitsiwe’s murder. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that on the day of  the victim’s brutal murder, the accused’s mother washed blood at the crime scene, allegedly to destroy evidence.

Residents said they were tempted to take the law into their own hands after leaving the police station but were urged to act lawfully by a former police officer, who warned them against doing anything they might regret. “I don’t want my name dragged through the mud tomorrow for inciting the community to take the law into their own hands,” she said.

National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson in the North West Sivenathi Gunya  said the docket was not missing.

“The investigating officer was supposed to have picked up the docket from the Adv dealing with the matter at DPP’s office. The investigations in the matter are still incomplete. As we know that there is a backlog at the forensic, we are still waiting for the DNA  results. Unfortunately, the matter has been on the roll for some time now. The matter was then provisionally withdrawn,” he said.