Patroller ‘scalds mother with hot water’
HOSPITALISED: Mom Nopinky Mqhele, 41, heavily bandaged. Picture supplied
A Kraaifontein woman is in hospital after a neighbourhood watch member allegedly poured boiling water over her on Saturday night.
According to the victim’s son, Masibulele Mqhele, 26, they were drinking in their home in Phase 9 when patrollers from the local neighbourhood watch came to tell them to go to bed as it was late.
“It was around midnight and they asked us to go to sleep,” he says.
“My mother asked why, when we are not making a noise.”
He says his mother, Nopinky Mqhele, started arguing with a female patroller who also happened to be their neighbour.
Masibulele says the patroller left the house but came back with a bucket full of boiling water.
“When she returned, she just called other patrollers to get out of the way and poured the water over my mother,” he says.
“The water got her on the face down to her stomach and she screamed in agony.”
Photos of Nopinky, 41, lying in hospital show her face and body covered in bandages with only small openings left for eyes, nose and mouth.
Masibulele says he was also assaulted.
“When the police arrived, it was clear which side they were on. They did not ask any questions and started assaulting me,” he says.
Masibulele says they could not open a case as Kraaifontein SAPS told him he should wait for his mother to be discharged from the hospital first.
He said his family and the patroller are kwaad for one another and have not been on speaking terms since 2019, when she allegedly stabbed her tenant 14 times.
“The tenant came to our house for cover and was bleeding. That woman was never arrested for the incident and we know she will not get arrested for this one too as she works with the police during the patrols.”
Nopinky’s cousin Cebisa Pikoko says the incident has shocked the family.
“This seems like something she planned for a long time. For her to go fetch water from her house shows that she was determined to do this. It is shocking that she can be this heartless,” she says.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said he can only comment on the matter once a case is made.
CPF chairperson Robert Bisset said they condemn any form of vigilantism.
“The CPF is not aware of this and we do not support such action if it took place,” he said.
“We have SAPS to do the arresting and we distance ourselves from such action.”
The alleged perpetrator could not be reached on Monday.