Mob justice can lead to imprisonment
The man is, however, battling for his life, since he suffered serious assault injuries during the mob attack on Saturday, August 20.
According to a police report, a resident of the area was stabbed to death, and an angry group of residents then went after his alleged killer, and managed to apprehend him.
After catching the suspect, the residents could not control their anger and began to unleash their venom on the man, who was later rescued.
The man was encircled and struck with sticks, stones and any other object on which the mob could lay their hands, until the police came to his rescue.
The crazed crowd of people had set the suspect’s clothes alight, with the intention to burn his body, when the police officers arrived and battled against them to save the man’s life.
The officers also came under attack as they tried to rescue the man being assaulted by the enraged community.
The crowd started throwing stones at the approaching police van, preventing officers from taking away the mob’s prey.
More backup vehicle arrived and the police finally managed to remove the suspect from the stone-pelting crowd. The situation also forced the officers to fire a warning shot to disperse the crowd.
None of the police officers were injured and nobody has been arrested in connection with the mob justice attack.
An ambulance also arrived and helped the survivor of the attack, before he was rushed to hospital where he is being treated for severe injuries, under police guard.
This incident comes barely a month after a suspected robber, 25-year-old Thomas Shihlure, was beaten to death around the same area.
Robbery suspect beaten to death in mob justice
The Boksburg SAPS management team condemned the mob justice attack, and the community were warned to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Authorities remind people that it is against the law for citizens to embark on ”jungle justice”.
“While we need community support, the rule of law must be obeyed. People must also respect the police when they are carrying out their lawful duties, said the Boksburg SAPS’s head of Vispol, Lieut-Col Khumbulani Ndaba.
“We appeal to our community to stop taking the law into their own hands and to let the law take its course.”
The police have confirmed that, with regard to the August 20 incident, a case of murder and attempted murder were registered, and the investigation continues.
Another police officer told the Advertiser, on condition of anonymity, that the absence of evidence has remained a challenge in dealing with similar cases, adding that the mob attack survivor might be released if no one comes forward with information or evidence linking him to the fatal stabbing.
The latest fatal stabbing is among many increasing violent crimes in the informal settlement. -@FanieFLK
Mob justice linked to death of alleged robber accused of ‘witchcraft
