Hercules police are investigating a case of murder after a man was beaten to death in a mob justice attack in Gomorrah informal settlement on Tuesday night.
“It is alleged that the man and his accomplices wanted to rob a spaza shop in the area when the attacked happened,” said Hercules police spokesperson Captain Bonginkosi Msimango.
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“The community members mobilised and chased the three suspects. They apprehended one of them, beat him up and stoned him.”
Four police officers arrived to calm the situation down but were slightly injured in an altercation with residents while trying to rescue the man, he said.
Backup was summoned.
“Police came and managed to rescue the man. However, he was soon declared dead by paramedics. No arrests have been made at this stage,” he said.
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Msimango pleaded with community members to stop taking the law into their hands.
“We appreciate the community involvement in the quest to take a bite in fighting crime and handing over criminals to the police when caught. However, we do condemn the unlawful act of mob justice.
“We cannot spare such illegal conduct and all people who participate in such act will be arrested,” he said.
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