Mob justice: Suspected rapist brutally murdered, Reitz

South African Police Service

Mob justice: Suspected rapist brutally murdered, Reitz
Mob justice: Suspected rapist brutally murdered, Reitz

The Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane condemns acts of mob justice after a man was killed by a group of unknown people in Petsana, Reitz.

In the early hours of Sunday the 29 November 2020, at about 03:05 the police were summoned to a crime scene where the body of a man was found with bruises, burnt legs and multiple stab wounds.

It is alleged that the victim was attacked by a mob of unknown people in Petsana township who accused him of raping the woman known to them at a certain house.

The police were summoned to the scene where the angry community failed to cooperate with the authorities, but finally the victim was rushed to a local hospital where he died on arrival.

No suspects have been arrested and a case of murder has been registered for further investigation.

“Such acts of vigilantism and mob justice cannot be tolerate as they distort justice and the rights of every individual to stand trial if accused of any crime as required by our constitution. Any person who is suspected of having committed crime should be handed over to the police unharmed, so that investigation can be conducted and the person taken before the court where his fate will be decided” said Lt Gen Motswenyane.

“Crimes against women and children will also not be tolerated and anyone accused of such heinous crimes will face the might of the law” she concluded.

SAPS Newsroom

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service