LIMPOPO – Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo has confirmed that 52-year-old, Simon Maluleke, has succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

Maluleke was injured during an incident of mob justice on Sunday morning, in which residents of Gandlanani village in Giyani went on rampage by torching the properties of a businessman, Maluleke and another employee.

Read more: Mob justice: 23 arrests made as community torch businessman’s house and 3 vehicles

Residents accused them of being responsible for the disappearance of 25-year-old, Mahlori Maluleka, after a sangoma pointed out that the three men were responsible.

“The police initially arrested 23 suspects and of those, 21 have been directly linked with the crimes and charged. Two have been released after they could not be linked,” Mojapelo said in a statement.

He said the suspects, between the ages of 19 and 52, will appear before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court, tomorrow (Tuesday, 20 October) on charges of murder, arson, malicious damage to property and public violence.

“A search operation is still going on in the area, with the help of the Airwing. More arrests are expected,” Mojapelo concluded.