Emotions flared up outside Schoemansdal Police Station on Tuesday February 22, when family and friends brought the body of Nkosana Samuel Masuluke (27) to the gate of the station in a coffin. They demanded justice for their brutally murdered son, who had died during an incident of mob justice on Monday evening.

According to given information, Masuluke was allegedly beaten up by angry unknown members of a community police forum (CPF) who accused him of stealing blankets and cellphones around the Masimini Village in Schoemansdal.

With the help of friends, Masuleke’s family transported the coffin by car, but walked most of the distance, carrying his coffin a few kilometres along the way to the police station.

James Tibane, who spoke on the family’s behalf, said, “We are in deep pain, still trying to process this tragedy as a family. Samuel was a good young man and did not deserve to die like that.

“Members of the CPF killed Samuel, claiming that he had stolen blankets and cellphones in the few homes around Masimini. They came to our home and searched the house up and down, and did not find anything, but continued to attack him until he was beaten to death.”

As the police sorted out the commotion at their gates, the family opened a case against the CPF members and demanded them to be arrested.

“We took Samuel’s coffin because we couldn’t afford money for his burial, and we wanted to show the police how serious we are when we demand them to arrest the people behind his death.” Tibane said.

Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said, “As the police, we always encourage community members to report crime matters to the local stations. We do not promote the communities to take the law into their own hands.

“What they did was no accident, and they will be found and questioned for their crimes. We are still investigating this matter. A manhunt has been deployed.”