Police management in the province have strongly condemned acts of mob justice in which two men accused of criminality were unfortunately killed in two separate incidents at Bushbuckridge recently.
Reports indicate that the first incident occurred in the evening of Wednesday, 14 April 2021 and it is said that three armed men entered into a certain shop at Zoeknog near Bushbuckridge, where they held the shop owner at gunpoint, reportedly attempted to rob him but he then blew his whistle and alerted other residents that he was in trouble. It is said that the trio tried to run away however one of them was left behind where some community members cornered him and tied him with a rope then assaulted with various objects. Authorities were notified about the incident and upon arrival, the man was certified dead.
Meanwhile the second incident took place on Thursday 15 April 2021, at Majembeni Trust near Bushbuckridge where a 38-year-old man was assaulted by some community members following allegations that he attacked an 89-year-old woman whilst she was still asleep at her place. It is said that the man then assaulted her with an unidentified object where the pensioner sustained injuries. The elderly woman was then dragged out of her house to the nearest bushes where he started raping her.
In the process, the woman called out for help where members of the community rushed to the bushes and caught the man in the act. He then attempted to flee but was chased by the community and apprehended as well as severely assaulted. Police and paramedics were informed about the incident whereupon their arrival at the scene, the man was certified dead by the medical personnel.
The management of police in the province has also warned members of the public who engage in mob justice activities that the law will definitely take its course without any fear or favour. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Major General Thulani Phahla has indicated that regardless of the circumstances, there is nobody who is above the law and no one is allowed to take the law upon himself/herself. Communities are urged to join legitimate structures such as the Community Police Forums (CPF’s) and team up with their local Traditional Leadership with a sole purpose of addressing crime. “Those who break the law should know that they will be locked up regardless of who they are” concluded Maj Gen Phahla.
