A man in his early twenties was attacked and murdered by members of the community near the Madala Hostel in Kagiso for allegedly stealing a copper pipe on 27 March.

Warrant Officer Solomon Sibiya, a police spokesperson, says that they received a complaint of mob justice and rushed to the scene.

“The police found the deceased lying on the ground and bleeding profusely from head injuries.”

He says that the police were told that the deceased was caught stealing copper pipes from the new unoccupied houses at the hostel.

“He tried to flee the scene but members of the community gave chase and caught him. A group of men armed with traditional sticks started assaulting him until he collapsed.”

Sibiya says that paramedics arrived and certified the deceased dead on the scene. He had sustained multiple open wounds to his head.

No arrests have been made yet and a case docket of murder was opened at the Kagiso Police Station.

Sibiya says that the police strongly condemn people taking the law into their own hands and believe that they will arrest the perpetrators soon.