An angry crowd of about 50 people gathered outside the Umhlali Magistrates Court on Monday in support of vigilante action, saying the community should be able to take the law into their own hands and kill criminals.

This follows the arrest of four alleged vigilantes from Etete on Friday, November 29 on charges of kidnapping and murder.

The four men made a brief appearance in the Umhlali Magistrates Court this morning.

However the magistrate postponed the bail hearing until tomorrow due to the protest outside the court.

The men stand accused of kidnapping and murdering two people accused of rape and house burglary on November 17.

Their victims were allegedly assaulted and died of their injures.

The third victim, a minor, managed to escape and has turned state witness.

The four accused, including a local councillor, are facing two counts of kidnapping and two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

According to one community member, who wished to remain anonymous, the community of Etete had resorted to vigilantism because they had lost faith in the police.

“We must kill rapists and robbers in our communities because the police are failing to protect the poor,” said the angry protester.

According to the protesters the victims, aged 19 and 20, were part of a gang of five who were allegedly involved in numerous house robberies, as well as the rape of an 85-year-old woman.

Outside the court, friends and families of the victims were opposing the bail application.

The brother of one of the victims said should the men be released on bail they will “bring the whole town to a standstill with protest action.”

Section 42 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977, allows citizens to arrest someone for certain crimes.

According to a Community Police Forum (CPF) guide a citizen can arrest someone, inform the police, then hand the person over to the police as soon as possible.

Citizens could make arrests for murder, rape, robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon and burglary.

However, police have warned the public about the consequences of taking the law into their own hands.

Download The North Coast Courier mobile app, now available free from the Apple iStore and on Google Play, for IOS and Android phones.