MBOMBELA - Police management in the province is deeply perturbed by acts of vigilantism in  various parts of the province. This concern stems from recent happenings in and around the Pienaar cluster where - in just less than a week -  a total of three people had been murdered in three separate mob-justice incidents.

These victims, accused of committing crimes, were fatally assaulted with various weapons. Another victim is lucky to be alive and is currently recuperating after a brutal assault. An urgent warning has been extended to community members to refrain from engaging in these activities. Police vowed that those responsible would be arrested and charged accordingly. Three suspects, aged 23 to 39, have been arrested and are expected to appear in the Kanyamazane Magistrate's Court on murder charges. More arrests are imminent and the community is urged to cooperate with police by assisting them with information about such incidents.

The Provincial Police Commissioner for Mpumalanga, Lt Genl Mondli Zuma, condemned these actions and requested communities not to take the law in their own hands, but to report any incidents to the authorities. "Mob justice has the tendency of meting out punishment to the wrong people, usually a person would be long gone when it transpires," Zuma said.

Submitted by: Brig Leonard Hlathi
Subeditor: Lynette Brink for Africa InTouch News
Image URL