Community demands clearance of mob justice suspects
On the morning of May 16 disgruntled residents of Block B barricaded the D797 Road towards Naas. They marched to the local police station, demanding the immediate release of three suspects who had been arrested for mob-justice killings.
TONGA – On the morning of May 16 disgruntled residents of Block B barricaded the D797 Road towards Naas. They marched to the local police station, demanding the immediate release of three suspects who had been arrested for mob-justice killings.
Mr Duncan Sambo (33), Mr Calvin Sibiya (27) and Mr Joel Lubisi (51) were apprehended last Thursday night after being accused of killing the two suspects who allegedly robbed and murdered a couple, and raped their 16-year-old daughter in February this year.
The men, who were involved in the Block B Community Police Forum (CPF) spent a night at the Tonga Police Station.
According to community members the police claim to be in possession of a video sent to them by their provincial seniors. “They say they received an order from provincial seniors to arrest three men, while it’s not only them who killed the criminals but all of us in Block B,” said an angry resident, Ms Nokubonga Nsingwane.
The community members and pupils in school uniforms were chanting and singing outside the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court, demanding the immediate release of the CPF members.
“We are doing this because those who were arrested brought peace to the village and risked their lives. They woke up at night to patrol the entire Block-B. Now that they have been apprehended, our lives are at risk and we are not going anywhere unless they are released,” said Nsingwane.
She also mentioned that one of the accused’s wife was very ill.
According to the station spokesman, Mr Mzwandile Nyambi, they managed to find the murder and rape suspects after conducting their investigations.
“We cannot comment on the video, all we can say is that we looked into the matter and arrested the three men,” said Nyambi.
He furthermore pleaded with the community not to take the law into their hands. “We work well with the residents of our operation area, but nobody is allowed to kill in South Africa. If they find a culprit they should call the police station so officials can come and arrest the offender.”
The three men were all released on warning the same day, and reappeared in the Tonga Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where the matter was postponed to June 20, pending further investigation.
