Shocking video: Elderly woman assaulted for shoplifting - 5 in court

Two of five people accused of assaulting a woman and filming it were granted bail by the Nebo Magistrate's Court, Limpopo police said on Tuesday.

Matthew Makofane, Maria Mahlaela, Gladys Maphanga, Refilwe Mzimba and Thabang Makuwa appeared in court on Monday, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

The group, all employees at a clothing shop in Jane Furse, allegedly assaulted 49-year-old Ester Mankge after accusing her of stealing a packet of underwear.



Makofane and Mahlaela received R500 bail each. Maphanga, Mzimba and Makuwa would remain in custody because of previous assault allegations.

"Further investigations revealed that three of the employees committed a similar crime involving young children," Mulaudzi said.

Apparently the employees had beaten the children with sjamboks last year after they'd allegedly stolen from the shop.

"Following a tip-off, we found a video of a woman being beaten with a rubber hammer. We located the victim and opened a case against the five employees," Mulaudzi said.

The two men in the group allegedly beat the woman with various objects while filming it. The Daily Sun uploaded the video to their YouTube account on Monday.

"The incident happened October last year, but the woman never opened a case until someone notified the police of the video," Mulaudzi said.

A case was opened on 8 April. All five were arrested last week.

The group was expected to appear in the Nebo Magistrate's Court on 22 April on charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.