FACING THE MUSIC: Mthatha businessman and SQ Risk Security company owner Wessel Scheepers, front right, 51, and employees David Mayburgh, 51, centre, and Johann du Toit, 43, left, in the back of a police van after they were arrested for kidnapping two young university students in Mthatha. Picture: LULAMILE FENI
TWO university students claim they were left traumatised this week after allegedly spending 13 gruelling hours being tortured by a businessman and two employees in Mthatha.
Mthatha businessman and owner of the SQ Risk Security Wessels Scheepers, 51, and his co-accused, security guards David Mayburgh (as named in court documents), and Johann du Toit, appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court charged with kidnapping.
They were released on bail of R1 000 each and the case postponed to March 20.
The magistrate complained that some court documents had been prepared by a senior prosecution official instead of the clerk of the court, saying this could create a misconception the court was biased towards the accused.
But NPA spokesman Luxolo Tyali said they were neutral and not biased towards anyone.
The two young men – Lonwabo Mesatywa, 22 and Luthando Cingo 23 – alleged they spent the better part of Monday and Tuesday handcuffed. They claim icy water had been poured on them and they had been forced to eat dog faeces.
A cousin of one of the young men claimed he had been called a k****r when he went to find out what had happened to them, and he then went and called the police.
The three men were arrested at Goodman Farm, believed to be owned by Scheepers, just outside Mthatha around 3pm on Tuesday.
When the Daily Dispatch arrived on the scene there were about 10 police vehicles including a Nyala and dozens of armed officers.
As the three accused were loaded into the back of a police van they mocked the police and the media.
“Oh we are famous – the SABC and the Daily Dispatch is here. Viva democracy viva, viva police,” said Scheepers showing a V-sign and laughing loudly.
Du Toit and Mayburgh were quiet.
The young men were freed at the same time after they had allegedly been kidnapped at about 1am on Monday.
Police spokesman LieutenantColonel Mzukisi Fatyela said it was claimed the three accused had apprehended the two men in town and detained them after the young men had allegedly broken into a bookshop in town.
“These young men were supposed to have been taken to a police station to be charged. But instead they were taken to this farm. This is against the law and is tantamount to kidnapping,” said Fatyela.
Fatyela said the accused had resisted arrest and back-up was called by the first police officers on the scene.
He said a fourth suspect would still be arrested in connection with the kidnapping.
Dave Rankin
February 7, 2013
The accused allegedly kidnapped – or at least illegally detained – the men and need to explain themselves in court. Quite correct.
The alleged victimes allegedly broke into a bookshop – which is also a crime. Which paragraph of the report contains the information that THEY have been arrested and need to answer for their alleged offence? Or does Mthatha have a different criminal code to the rest of the country?
tracey wilson
February 8, 2013
Lulamile Feni – this is quality journalism? Where is the rest of the story – Will Lonwabo Mesatywa and Luthando Cingo face charges because you are making them out to be pure victims. Sounds like there is a bit more to the story and what does the owner of the bookshop think? Sick of this black/white or white/black sensationalism! Report the whole story!
Patrick Sekoe
February 8, 2013
Tracey, on the subject of quality journalism.
Below is a copy of a letter i wrote to DD regarding a meeting that was held on Friday 01 February 2013 at John Bisseker School in respect of the shortage of teachers. Naturally, it was never published, therefore i post it on the web for your scrutiny of the type of journalism displayed by the DD.
It is shocking to witness the standard of reporting in the Daily Despatch. (Parents walk out on MEC – DD 04/02/2013.
The reporter focussed entirely on the walk-out of a small portion of the parents and even quotes some of them who stayed until the end. This type of reporting surely defeats the objective of responsible journalism. Let me enlighten my fellow readers about the facts and resolutions of the meeting. The meeting, amongst others, agreed that the following resolutions be implemented on or before 07 February 2013
1. That all temporary teachers at the 11 schools in the Greater Buffalo Flats be permanently employed
2. That teachers will be employed to critical subject vacancies
3. Schools to be prioritised on an individual basis to determine critical needs
4. Norms and standards have been implemented to evaluate the vacancies for non-teaching staff, once again, on a school by school basis
5. Parents must monitor the implementation of the resolutions and that a follow-up meeting should be held shortly after 07 February 2013.
This is the facts about the meeting.
Surely DD should acknowledge that their report on this matter does not even scrape the
barrel of truthful reporting. I hope that DD will be brave enough to acknowledge that their
reporting on this matter left a bad taste in the mouths of people who are concerned about
education in our community. We shall continue this battle notwithstanding tasteless
reporting.
Dave Rankin
February 8, 2013
Hey Patrick, my old adversary. How’s tricks? Still supporting nasty socialism against us lilly-white (to coin a phrase) capitalist exploiters?
Wessel Scheepers
February 9, 2013
SQ Risk SA
SECURITY SOLUTIONS
Security, Alarms Installations and Monitoring
24 Hour Response
7th February 2013
STATEMENT
Dear SQ Risk SA clients and friends // Collegues
The facts of this unfortunate matter:
SQ Risk SA regret the recent media exaggeration and fabrication of charges brought against the members of the mentioned company
SQ Risk SA categorically deny ANY of the mentioned allegations as was published by various media institutions
SQ Risk SA strives to live in harmony with all people of this country. We do not practise racist behaviour in its tiniest form and
find this allegation repulsive. SQ Risk SA employs hundreds of members of various ethnic groups and we will NOT be as successful
as we are – in the former Transkei – should racism be practised
SQ Risk SA hereby categorically deny the involvement of ANY of its members in ANY of the allegations mentioned
The next Court date was set for 20th March 2013 in which the truth will surface and we will all come out stronger
We hereby invite the Media to attend, be adult about their publications, and set the record straight!!
Kindly Yours
SQ Risk SA
Wessel Scheepers
Managing Member
Where Peace-of-Mind is STILL part of the deal
90 Second Avenue, Ncambedlana, Mthatha, 5100 – Suite 252, Private Bag X 5109, Mthatha, 5099
Tel. 047 534 0277 – Fax 086 696 1680 – info@sqrisksa.co.za
John
March 12, 2013
Blacks in Mthatha must be sleeping to allow such atrocities to occur at this day and age.
George Mentone
April 1, 2013
Your comment is racist!
Lee
March 17, 2013
I don’t think Wessel belong in this new South Africa ,lankwenkwe isenocalulo ndingomnye owayekhe wathukwa ngobu k######r but ndathulwa cause ndandisemsebenzi , xa ndimbona Kuthi nyaka undivusela inzondo bafa abantu bakuthi belwela elilizwe