LIMPOPO – Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has condemned in the strongest possible terms the apparent continuous acts of vigilantism committed by communities in Limpopo who are still attacking and killing suspected criminals.
Ledwaba warned communities to stop taking the law into their own hands, avoiding meeting the long arm of the law.
He says no stone will be left unturned in this matter until all people involved are arrested.
“We are also calling upon all our communities to assist the police by providing valuable information that can lead to the arrest of these criminals”, concluded General Ledwaba.
This follows the killing of a 24-year-old man in Tshamahanzi village on Saturday, 3 June.
The deceased was attacked, stoned and burnt to death by a group of community members.
Police spokesperson Lt Col Ngoepe says a 37-year-old man from Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga was in Tshamahanzi village attending a night vigil for the funeral of one of his relatives. He then walked around the village where he met the deceased.
“The two men engaged in an argument until the man from Bushbuckridge was stabbed to death with a sharp instrument by the deceased,” explains Ngoepe.
The community mobilized and began attacking the suspect with stones and set him alight in retaliation.
Ngoepe added that preliminary investigations revealed the deceased was previously arrested for burglary and robbery.
“The suspects in the mob-killing are still unknown and no arrests have been made.”
Anyone with information about the suspects in this matter are urged to contact Colonel Moshapati Sekanka at 0825658505; the nearest Police Station; the crime stop number 0860010111 or the crime line sms 32211.
