The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma hereby urges members of the community not to take the law into their own hands, whatever the circumstances. The Provincial Commissioner’s appeal comes in the wake of yet another two men believed to be aged between 25 and 35, were burnt to death in one of the villages at Masoyi, near White River.
It is reported that the pair, together with a third accomplice were robbing a bakery delivery van, when members of the community suddenly mobilised and attacked them.
The pair were reportedly caught and assaulted before being set alight, whilst the third suspect managed to escape from the irate crowd. A shack belonging to one of the victims was also torched and razed to the ground.
Two weeks ago, the community from another village in the same area burnt to death two men, accusing them of being responsible for the murder of two young girls (siblings). The girls’ naked bodies, were found in a ditch next to a stream in the area, with the younger one having been raped. The victims had been last seen playing near their parental home, a day before the discovery of their bodies.
The mob believed that certain body parts were missing from the victims’ bodies, but a post mortem disproved that belief, confirming that except for the rape, the bodies were intact.
General Zuma appealed for members of the community to cooperate with the police in fighting crime. “The problem with mob justice or vigilantism is that often the wrong people end up bearing the brunt of it. Our people are urged to exercise restraint at all times and support the criminal justice process of the land”, said the General.
A police investigation is underway. Anyone with information that may assist police in their investigation is urged to contact Captain Timothy Mushwana at 082 977 5870 or the SAPS Crime Stop number, 08600 10111.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
