Sjambokked used to attack alleged robbers in Burgersfort
Burgersfort SAPS had to come to the rescue of the alleged robbers as they were being hit by shoppers.
Two alleged criminals were sjambokked by shoppers and taxi operators in the central business district (CBD) on March 26.
According to eyewitnesses, the two had been terrorising shoppers in town, robbing them of their valuables, cash and gadgets. On Saturday, they were hunted down by the taxi operators after they had allegedly robbed another shopper of her cell phone and money.
Eyewitnesses said the robbers drove around in a Toyota Avanza. The two suspects allegedly pick up hitchhikers in the CBD and took them to a secluded area and robbed them. The two men were allegedly found with some stolen items.
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The Burgersfort SAPS were notified about the vigilante incident, and upon arrival at the scene, they arrested the two injured men.
While the Limpopo SAPS urged communities to refrain from mob justice, shoppers indicated they were fed up with crime in the town and will ensure it was stopped.
During her recent visit to Tubatse, the Limpopo SAPS commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Thembi Hadebe, again urged locals to refrain from mob justice.
“Communities remain an integral part of crime prevention. In doing so, they should refrain from taking the law into their own hands, but should rather work with the police to solve crime cases, because this will help to bring perpetrators to book. They should use structures such as community policing forums.”
On Monday, the two men were recovering at Dilokong Hospital under police guard.
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