Mob justice adds to increase in crime – police

Law enforcement in Soshanguve warned locals not to take the law into their own hands.

SAPS, the Tshwane metropolitan police (TMPD) and CPF met at Kgomotso high school in Block DD, Soshanguve on February 25 to find solutions to fight crime in the area.

Rietgat police spokesperson Captain Stephen Maluleka said the crime information management analysis centre (Cimac) gave residents an overview of crime in the area.

Maluleka said Cimac said that house robberies, car hijackings, burglaries at residential premises, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), common assault and murders resulting from mob violence resulting in the deaths of the “suspects” were on the rise in the area.

Rietgat SAPS station commander Brigadier Molatelo Maphoto said because the community was mainly middle-class, the number of assault GBH and common assault were “ironic”.

“I understand that crime is too high in the area, but some of it is caused by you beating each other,” said Maphoto.

Maphoto encouraged residents to call the police after a citizen’s arrest.

“Stop taking law into your own hands because when somebody dies in the process, we will come and arrest you and charge you with murder,” he warned.

“Mob violence is a contributor to increased murders, where you find suspects and beat them up to death.

Unfortunately, there is no justification for murder – it’s a crime, and we will arrest you,” said Maphoto.

He also encouraged residents to open a case after a citizen’s arrest, so that there could be a prosecution.

He told the community that plans were afoot to defeat crime in the precinct.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram