Residents threaten to take law into own hands after suspect is released ‘time and time again’
They say that since those who are responsible to protect them “are failing to do so” they will deal with the culprit themselves.
LIMPOPO – Villagers of Ngalavhani and Ha-Mabila villages say they have lost all hope in the police at Mutale Police Station.
This, after a woman was stabbed several times by a suspect who the community says has been terrorising the villages for several years.
Limpopo Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, confirmed that a case of attempted murder is being investigated after a woman was assaulted in Ngalavhani village outside Mutale.
Some of the villagers said they are tired of the behaviour of the suspect in their village and surrounding areas.
They claim that the suspect has been terrorising Ngalavhani, Ha-Mabila and Guyuni villages with housebreaking, and stealing food, clothes and cellphones.
“We are frustrated at the manner which the police are handling the cases year in and year out.
“The suspect is simply released time and time again.”
They have threatened to take the law into their own hands since those who are responsible to protect them “are failing to do so”.
“If the suspect comes back, we will be left with no other choice but to finish him, because he will come back and commit the same crime.”
Even though the villagers claim that the suspect had been arrested several times, the police said they don’t have reported and registered cases linked to the same person in previous years.
In another incident, the same suspect was caught breaking into a relative’s house.
The police confirmed a case of housebreaking was opened against him.
“It is alleged that the suspect was found in the victim’s house on Friday morning at around 00:30.
“When the victim asked the man how he gained entry into the house, he said he broke the window. The victim found his shoes were stolen after the suspect left,” Mojapelo explained.
He added that the man is still at large and police investigations continue.
Anyone with information that can help the police, can contact their nearest police station.
