“Police have let us down” – Etete residents
According to the protesters, the victims, 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.
An angry crowd of about 50 people gathered outside the Umhlali Magistrates Court on Monday in support of vigilante action, saying that community members 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 who have been charged with kidnapping and murder.
The four men made a brief appearance in the Umhlali Magistrates Court, on Monday. The magistrate postponed the bail hearing to Wednesday.
The men have been accused of kidnapping and murdering two alleged rapists and house burglars. The third victim, a minor, managed to escape and has turned state witness. The four accused, are Ronald Ndamande, Sibongiseni Ndimande, Bongumusa Mkhize and Bonginkosi Dindi, the ward seven (Etete) councillor. The men are facing charges relating to three counts of kidnapping and two counts of murder and attempted murder.
According to one community member who wished to remain anonymous, Etete residents 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 an angry protester.
According to the protesters, the victims, Nkosehle Ngiba (19) and Senzo Mthembu (18), 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 would “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 residents about the consequences of taking the law into their own hands.
The men will remain in custody until their bail hearing on Wednesday.
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