MBOMBELA- The Acting Provincial Commissioner , Maj Gen (Adv) Meshack Nogwanya issues a stern warning against the scourge of vigilantism in the province.
This comes after the community of Kabokweni near White River, Bushbuckridge and Evander near Secunda allegedly assaulted six people wherein five died and one survived for suspecting them of having committed crimes.
On November 15 members of Kabokweni community assaulted a 30-year-old man who was allegedly found stealing from a certain house.
In Bushbuckridge two male victims were found lying on the ground with open cut wounds and bruises all over their bodies by the police after being assaulted by a mob accusing them of committing an armed robbery at an Ethiopian national tuck shop.
Another report of brutal mob attack in Uitkyk near Evander two males aged 25-years were severely assaulted.
Police found them man lying on the ground and one was certified dead at the scene by paramedics and the other victim seriously injured.
Preliminary report revealed that the victims robbed people of their cash in what is believed to be a job scam related matter.
On the wake of these incidences, Major General Nogwanya expressed his concern regarding these acts of lawlessness mashrooming within the communities.
He warns the community to practise good citizenship by abiding by the law.
“When crime is committed, the correct and lawful route to take is to call the police to attend the scene. The police are mandated by the constitution of the Republic in terms of Section 205 (3). The mandate of the police under this section is to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law. Under no circumstances is anyone allowed to carry out any judgement against anyone who is suspected of having committed a crime. In terms of the law, if you are found having acted in an unpalatable manner wherein your actions are labelled as unlawful, police will act against you in accordance with the prescripts of the law”, concluded Major General Nogwanya.
