Mmathethe community terrorised by Ukraine and Russia

Youths in Mmathethe village have grouped themselves into two rival violent gangs, nicknamed Ukraine and Russia.They terrorise the village, cause panic among residents and rob innocent people of their valuable properties. As the tiny village of Mmathethe is divided by the tarred road and Moselebe Valley into north and south, the rival gangs’ formation is also influenced by the division.The Ukraine gang belongs to Mmathethe south and Russia gang exists in the northern side. According to eyewitnesses, the Ukraine gang members normally invade the valley area and has caused fear among many, with people fearing to use pedestrian passages across the village to their homesteads.According to villagers who prefer anonymity, the thugs operate with eerie confidence and they are always armed. They carry sharpened iron implements such as slashers, digging forks without handles, Okapi knives, big machetes as well as electric cow projectors, and they have on several occasions used all these to attack some residents.Around 20 villagers gathered on Monday to narrate their ordeal to The Midweek Sun. The residents lamented how day and night they lose properties to the thugs."We are scared to walk in the village after 7pm," one of the residents said, adding that both gangs are always hanging around bars in the evening and use signs to communicate, before ganging up on their targets.A few elderly residents revealed how they received hot slaps across their faces from the youthful thugs who do not fear to trespass into their homesteads to harass them. The elders who tremble in fear say gang members often accuse them that their children belong to the rival gang and for that they are beaten and warned by the young men covered in black masks that they will never find peace.Some elders say the 'Ukraine' gang members are not afraid to launch violent attacks on the 'Russian' gang in the north and usually it is during these attacks that they get harassed, while inside their homes. The thugs would proceed to rob them of electronics and house furniture.A 52-year-old woman who was beaten and left with severe injuries told The Midweek Sun that her attackers broke all her doors and entered the house."They were youthful men covering their faces with black masks, I even fought for the door with them until the handle broke," she explained.The victim spoke while showing injuries she sustained during the vicious attack. They used a sharp slasher to threaten her to leave the door from the inside. She now fears she might have internal injuries as they hit her on the head with a slasher."They fled the scene with my handbag. Right now I don't have my identity card, driver’s license and banking cards. I no longer write well because they have injured my left hand," she said, adding that she fears the thugs may return anytime as they broke all the doors in the yard.Other frustrated villagers, raised concern that sometimes these young men blow marijuana smoke on their faces in public spaces. They are convinced that most attacks on residents are done under the influence of drugs and alcohol.The thugs are said to sometimes ride horses within the village, with some of community members running for their lives, screaming 'ke bao,' whenever they spot them. The villagers also revealed that the unruly gangs fear nothing. 'Ga ba tshabe sepe,' they said.Speaking to The Midweek Sun, the village community leadership office said they are aware of the gangsters and the trouble they cause within the village.Kgosi Reuben Mosala revealed that the gangs are comprised of unemployed young men who failed Form 3 and Form 5. They are often heavily armed with sharp tools used for killing."The situation is out of control, we called all men for an urgent meeting on Monday to map a way forward," Mosala said.He said residents have on several occasions come to their offices to report criminal gangs who terrorise them day and night. He said the thugs steal villagers' livestock such as goats, donkeys and chickens, slaughter them formeat and sell to buy drugs.Mosala said they previously asked for police intervention and of late police raids are carried out in the village. However, this has not been helpful as the young men continue to harass residents.He lamented that majority of gangsters in the two groups were raised by single parents, without fathers to instil discipline. "Our village has turned into something else," he concluded.Goodhope Police Station Commander, Superintendent Batshwari Gaobatlelwe said they recently attended to the gangs after receiving reports from the residents. "We have seen many of these young men. Some were brought to the Kgotla to be thoroughly punished," said Gaobatlelwe.

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Mmathethe community terrorised by Ukraine and Russia