Outraged community members take law into their own hands

The men proceeded to further assault the accused, while throwing stones at the windows of his house and smashing them.

February 23, 2018

Zianne Leibrandt 1 minute read

The victim's vehicle was also set on fire.

Dannhauser SAPS arrested five suspects for arson, and one suspect for stock theft between February 13 and February 14.

According to Dannhauser SAPS Corporate Communications and Liason Officer, Sergeant Mfanafuthi Nyembe, the victim was at his house in Peach Hill at 3.30pm, where he was accosted by five men.

“The men accused the victim of stealing livestock from them,” Nyembe said.

The men proceeded to further assault the accused, while throwing stones at the windows of his house and smashing them.

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The men then set both his house and vehicle on fire, with the resultant damage totaling about R120 000.

It is believed that other members of that community recovered 13 of their stolen sheep, near the victim’s house, with the carcass of a slaughtered sheep nearby, which the victim had attempted to hide.

Police were summoned and arrested three men between the ages of 30 and 32 years.

The assaulted and accused victim was also placed under arrest on a count of stock theft.

Following further investigations, two more suspects aged 29 and 35 years respectively were also placed under arrest on charges of arson.

“Luckily, no one was seriously injured during the incident,” Nyembe added.

All six men will appear in the Dannhauser Magistrate’s Court soon.