Enraged mob brutally kill suspected robber, injure accomplice
A suspected criminal has been beaten to death and his apparent accomplice injured in a mob justice attack, in Comet, on Tuesday evening, August, 25.
Fed up with criminal gangs ruling the streets of the former mine houses in Comet, residents of the area reportedly decided to take matters into their own hands.
The residents said a ”hardcore” gang of criminals has been threatening the Comet community with guns and committing robbery, rape and theft in the area.
In retaliation, it is understood that the irate community recently resolved to start a manhunt, to track down the criminals.
During the hunt, on Tuesday night, they found two of the people suspected of terrorising the community.
One of the suspects is a member of the community, but is believed to have masterminded the attacks.
He reportedly revealed that he was working with accomplishes who reside in the Angelo informal settlement.
Members of the Angelo and Comet community together afflicted mob justice on the suspect.
The police were called by a concerned resident and the officers rescued the suspected criminal before he could be burned alive.
The man sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
This did not, however, diminish the mob’s enthusiasm to hunt down all the suspected criminals.
The hunt continued to the Joe Slovo informal settlement, where they got hold of a 19-year-old, who is believed to be a member of a gang.
The Advertiser understands the young man was taken the Comet sports ground, where he was assaulted by a group of men and women.
The angry mob apparently encircled the man and struck him with sticks, knobkerries, sjamboks and other hard objects.
Police were again dispatched to the scene and found the teen lying on the ground, fighting for his life.
Officers managed to bring the situation under control, and took the injured man to Tambo Memorial Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
According to a spokesperson for the Boksburg SAPS, Lieut Kwendzakwakhe Ngobese, detectives are now investigating a case of murder, as well as one of abduction.
Ngobese confirmed that, initially, there were reports of people terrorising the community, and that such reports were being investigated.
“We have met with the concerned community members to discuss the issue and have told them that suspects should always be handed to the police, because no one is allowed to take the law into own hands,” he added.
“We condemn these acts where communities decide to take the law into their own hands.
“A case has been opened and those identified will be arrested.”
According to residents, who asked to remain anonymous, the ongoing crime problem was reported to the police, but they failed to address it.
This prompted residents to take matters into their own hands.
“We have asked the police to step up patrols because robbery, rape, murder and theft are spiraling out of control, but the police were dragging their feet in addressing these problems,” said one resident.
“The community also resolved that the police should immediately recruit members of the community to conduct regular patrols, but they ignored this initiative.
“I think the incompetent policing which led to their failure to curb the increasing crime in the area is to blame for the recent mob justice… not the community.
“The police, it seems, focus only on undocumented immigrants, family feuds and illegal shebeens.”
Another infuriated resident said a gang of robbers recently held guns to his head near the railway station, and took his belongings, including a cellphone. -@FanieFLK
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