This comes after a 49-year-old man, who allegedly raped a three-year-old girl was severely beaten up by scores of residents, in an apparent mob justice incident in Slovo informal settlement.
According to Sgt Mashudu Phathela, of the Reiger Park SAPS, victims of a mob justice can open a case of assault or attempted murder, depending on the degree of injury.
“Every now and then, we ask residents of the area to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, seemingly, it is a case of in one ear and out the other,” states Phathela.
“Again, we appeal to the public not to take the law into their own hands, but should allow the law to take its course. Even if someone has done something wrong, citizens don’t have the right to administer the law, punish or to pass judgment on a suspect.”
The police also assure the public that lawlessness would not be tolerated, and that those involved in the recent attack would be arrested, provided the victim decides to open a case.
Residents of the Joe Slovo informal settlement, in Reiger Park beat the 49-year-old man after they caught him red-handed, while he was raping the three-year-old child, on Wednesday, October 16.
The angry mob even attempted to set the suspect on fire.
Luckily, police arrived at the scene and were able to thwart all attempts by the mob to necklace the alleged rapist.
He was rushed to hospital, where he is being held under police guard.
