Mob justice a growing trend in Burgersfort
"Regardless, beating them up is illegal and people have no right to do anything other than apprehend the suspects. Remember anything that incurs serious injury is wrong and the public can be charged with assault,” he warned.
BURGERSFORT – These days, beating up a stranger for allegedly having committed a “crime” has become commonplace.
Social media users will have witnessed many videos uploaded on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and Youtube. In some disturbing videos, the thieves beg for the police to come, for fear of being beaten up by the angry mob. Most seem to prefer imprisonment to being sjambokked by the people.
There have recently been similar cases in the Tubatse area. A man was brutally beaten by an angry mob after he was caught red handed stealing in a Praktiseer home on Sunday September 14. The man, believed to be in his late 20s, was rescued by the Tubatse SAPS from the angry mob and was renowned for stealing anything he laid eyes on.
In August three men believed to be from the Kgopaneng area were stoned to death at Taung Village after they were allegedly caught stealing at a tuck shop owned by a Somali. Two others managed to escape unhurt.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News has a video of a man who was beaten in the local town for allegedly stealing a blanket; the incident occurred next to the traffic lights situated at the taxi rank, on September 17 at about 08:20. In the video the man, who was seen wearing a red T-shirt was rescued by the security officers from the wrath of the locals. He begged the enraged crowd to cease the whipping.
As satisfying and justified as it may sometimes seem, such acts of vigilantism have their own repercussions.
Spokesman for the Limpopo police, Mr Hangwani Mulaudzi, highlighted the fact that those found guilty of participating In mob justice would also be arrested. “They might be disappointed with the law or they might have proof of the alleged crimes, but it’s wrong for them take the law into their own hands.
“We will deal with the perpetrators appropriately – this is not a banana republic – without fear or favour we will try to arrest the criminals.
“Regardless, beating them up is illegal and people have no right to do anything other than apprehend the suspects. Remember anything that incurs serious injury is wrong and the public can be charged with assault,” he warned.
Meanwhile a community member who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation added that people took the law into their own hands because the police were dragging their feet when called to crime scenes
“Despite having evidence like eye witnesses and CCTV footage, the police just leave without action, they come and take the suspects from the mob, and they will be seen roaming the streets again the next day,” our source said. Meanwhile the Burgersfort police have warned locals to be wary of criminals who steal luggage and groceries in bakkies at the traffic lights. They encourage drivers to cover the items or to keep someone on guard on the back of the vehicle.
