LEBOGANG SEALE
H E IS among Soweto’s most recognised faces and owns one of the area’s most popular taverns. But Herman Mokoena, the proprietor of Herman’s Place in Protea South, stands accused of strangling a patron to death and assaulting another.
The second patron was so severely assaulted that he was admitted to Leratong Hospital near Kagiso in Krugersdorp.
And, as Mokoena spent his second night behind bars yesterday, the grieving family of the murdered man, Busang Moroke, 23, want justice to be done.
This, said Busang’s sister, Sylvia Moroke, would “stop murderers – who think they can kill and escape scot-free just because they are wealthy and powerful in society – from being a law unto themselves”.
Yesterday morning, a group of angry residents toyi-toyied outside Mokoena’s tavern. The smouldering remains of tyres next to the pub bore testimony to the early protests where the group called on the police to shut down the tavern.
They said Mokoena had a history of assaulting patrons.
“If we had the powers, we would evict him from our area. We are fed up with people who think they can harass and kill others just because they are rich,” said one man, who identified himself as Siyabonga.
Police spokesman Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said a man was killed at about 5.30am on Sunday. He said a taverner and his security guards strangled Busang and dowsed him with a hosepipe.
He said Busang had scars around his neck, which was consistent with strangling.
Makhubela said they then loaded him onto the back of a bakkie and took him to the nearby Protea police station, claiming that he was drunk and refusing to leave the tavern. The police then realised that Busang was dead and Mokoena was arrested.
Yesterday, Sylvia said: “My brother-in-law phoned me to say Busang was at the police station and that he was dead. I couldn’t understand why he would be taken to the police station when he was dead.”
Devastated, Sylvia travelled from her home in Springs, Ekurhuleni, to Protea South, where Busang was renting a room. When she arrived, she met Busang’s close friend, who explained the events.
The friend, Lundi, told The Star that the attack had taken place just as he and Busang were leaving.
Sylvia said: “All we are asking is for justice to be done. Just because somebody is wealthy, he thinks he can get away with murder. I am so angry because he killed a defenceless person.
“My brother was still very young and had so much potential. Justice must be done here. My brother died a cruel death and he (Mokoena) doesn’t deserve bail. We don’t want to hear anything like ‘the docket is missing’.”
Mokoena was expected to appear in court today.