Police coaxed a murder suspect off of the roof of a school in Ackerville, eMalahleni, after he hid there to avoid mob justice from the community.

The suspect allegedly fatally stabbed a 25-year-old man and took refuge on the roof of the school after community members came after him.

On Monday, just after 18:00, police who were patrolling the area received information regarding a fatal stabbing.

When SAPS arrived at the scene, the suspect was hiding on the roof, apparently in fear of his life. He eventually came down and was arrested for questioning.

The 22-year-old suspect will appear in court once due process into the investigation is complete.

“I commend the swift arrest of the suspect,” says Mpumalanga SAPS commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela.