Alleged rape perpetrator (15) strangled, burned alive by angry Durban mob

The gruesome murder, on Thursday night, has rocked the northern Durban community of Mount Moriah. Provincial police spokeswoman, Col Thembeka Mbele, stated that the girl was allegedly taken from her home and raped, last Thursday morning.

She revealed that the community had conducted a search for her and she was found that night with assault wounds.

A case of rape was opened at Phoenix SAPS.

Cpt Louise Naidoo, communications officer of Phoenix SAPS, said, “It is alleged that the deceased, a 15-year-old male was involved in the rape of a 10-year-old female child in Mount Moriah, on Thursday. Shortly after the allegations of rape, an extensive search was was started by the community for the suspect, who is well-known to the residents. They proceeded to his house and set his brother’s shack alight. They then continued to search until they found him. He was subsequently taken to the recreational park in Mount Moriah where he was assaulted by the angry mob, who were armed with sticks, rocks and bricks. He was then strangled with a rope and set alight.”

Detectives found a blood-stained stick near the park.

A case of murder was opened and is currently under investigation at Phoenix SAPS. No arrests have been made yet. Police officers are appealing to anyone, who witnessed the incident, to come forward.

Phoenix Community Policing Forum’s Umesh Singh stated that he understood the community’s frustration, but did not encourage people to take the law into their own hands.

Cpt Naidoo added, “The SAPS have issued numerous warnings discouraging individuals from taking the law into their own hands. Vigilantism is a crime and anyone found to have engaged in this attack will be punished to the full extent of the law.”