The three men caught by community members after they allegedly cloned cards at Saveways Centre in eMalahleni did not go to court today.

Witbank News reports this turn of events comes after the men were not formally charged by the authorities.

Police spokesperson Captain Eddie Hall says the men could not be detained because the woman whose card was allegedly cloned did not open a case.

Without a formal complaint and charge laid by the victim, the police’s hands were tied, preventing them from keeping the men behind bars.

“The woman came to the police station but decided not to open a case. We had no alternative but to let the men go,” Hall adds.

The three men were caught yesterday after a swift reaction from the centre’s security team, which had special undercover patrols when suspicious activities were reported.

A guard noticed a woman who appeared uneasy as two men stood very close to her at an ATM.

When she signalled that her card had been cloned, the men were chased to their car. In their haste to flee, they reversed into a parked car, and when the community saw the commotion, they stepped in.

The car was turned on its roof and the men were assaulted, allegedly by angry community members.

Security officers arrested the severely beaten men and handed them over to police.

Watch the videos:

NEW VIDEO HERE: Community takes law into their own hands and stops suspected card cloners from getting awayhttps://t.co/ddAR5ggFbj pic.twitter.com/4f4ijaNQHr

— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) June 27, 2025

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