Angry mob sets robbers alight
Two men were beaten and set on fire on Sunday in Naas, near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga, on suspicion of robbing a taxi driver and his customers. According to a provincial police spokesman, Col. Donald Mdhluli, the mob justice episode happened at about six o’clock in the evening. The alleged heist, which occurred on Saturday night, led to the two’s tragedy.
Police are investigating two counts of murder following an alleged event in which two victims were assaulted and burned. When it was believed that they had committed crimes, the mob attacked them, but Mdhluli said that the investigation was still ongoing, therefore that conclusion was not made.
In a video circulated on social media, a large crowd can be heard shouting: “Let them die for their crimes.”
One of the men is seen trying to escape from the fire while burning but is kicked back into the flames by one of the people.
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A community member who spoke to Sowetan Live on condition of anonymity said the taxi was coming from Johannesburg, where a group of women had gone to stock up on stuff they sell.
“What we know is that the men robbed some women and the taxi driver on their way back from Johannesburg. The community was called to start searching for them on Saturday night but we couldn’t find them. Other community members went to the police to report the case.
“On Sunday, as the community we gathered to strategise and we got a hint that the men might be from Block A. Some community members went there and found them but one managed to escape. Due to the anger of the community as there have been many incidents of robberies both in houses and on the streets, the community decided to take the law into their own hands.
“They [duo] were beaten and another community member shot at them but they didn’t die. They were then set alight,” said the resident.
Police have condemned the incident and called on communities to hand over suspects to the police if they are caught. Mdhluli said the robbery case was also being investigated.
