80-year-old Eastern Cape madala brutally assaulted for rape allegedly committed by son
By Simbongile Mdledle
80-year-old man, Samson Mbesa from Bhungeni location in Ntabankulu reminisces on the day he almost lost his life at the hands of a mob for a rape crime he knew nothing about that allegedly involves his youngest son.
Mbesa did not only incur injuries during the beatings but his four rondavels were set alight and burnt to the ground.
According to Mbesa, on Monday last week, a group of people aggressively marched to his home forcing their way in.
“So, I was alone, my wife was at the clinic, not very far from home. I was repairing my planter when I saw a group of people marching towards my home but I did not pay attention as I was not expecting any visitors that particular day.
“However, a loud noise by the gate demanded my attention. I was asked where my son Zamekile was, just after responding with Pietermaritzburg, I was aggressively attacked and in a blink of an eye, I was roped, and struck sharply with an object in the head continuously until blood came out through the nose and mouth…
” I saw my wife running towards screaming, even before she could reach me, she was grabbed and brutally assaulted,” said Mbeso.
The 80-year-old government social grant beneficiary’s tears streamed down when he mentioned that his two granddaughters witnessed the merciless beatings when they came back from school.
The torture of the Mbesa family did not only end in their home, they were dragged for 20 kilometres to a deserted area” While they were dragging us, they said they will hang us in Camtsholo forest, however, they instead took us to a dysfunctional firm looking for tyres to put on our necks and set us alight alive but one of their own stopped them. It is at that moment we were untightened and told to never set foot again at Bhungeni Village,” said Mbesa.
Now the old man is staying with his elder daughter who is married in the nearby locality. He said during the attack he lost everything, furniture, clothes, Identity documents, money, church books, as well as the uniform for the church, money for the farmer’s project as he was a Treasurer for the project.
“I do not know where to start to pick up the pieces. My life is stagnant. I solely depend on the social grant to survive. I plead with any good samaritan to come to our rescue and to also restore the dignity of my family.
The police have confirmed the incident and stated that the investigation is underway and the case of assault, arson and attempted murder was opened in Maxesibeni police station which is expected to be transferred to Ntabankulu.
