Mob justice in eMbalenhle leads to murder charges
Police arrest seven people after a suspected thief died from injuries he sustained in a mob justice attack.
The SAPS arrested seven suspects on July 27 after a mob justice on July 9 that left a 23-year-old dead in Ext 25, eMbalenhle.
According to Constable Busi Mthethwa, the eMbalenhle police spokesperson, the deceased and his friend were suspected of theft.
A group of men went to his home in Ext 25, where he was allegedly assaulted, locked in a car boot and taken to Ext 22 to point out his friend.
Mthethwa said when the group reached the friend’s house in Ext 22, the friend was allegedly also assaulted while the 23-year-old remained locked in the car boot.
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The vigilantes eventually opened the car boot and dumped the two men on the side of the road. They were unable to move.
Residents called an ambulance to take the injured man to the Evander Hospital, where he later died.
Mthethwa said the deceased’s friend escaped when the suspects opened their car boot intending to continue assaulting him in Ext 25.
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Through assistance from the community and Ridge Times that published the story, community members began giving information to the police until they arrested the suspects.
Mthethwa said all the suspects were charged with kidnapping and murder, and they first appeared at Evander Magistrate’s Court on July 29 and were remanded in custody for their formal bail application on July 2.
Mthethwa said the police thank the community of eMbalenhle for being helpful in the fight against crime. He also warned the community to refrain from mob justice because it is a crime.
After all, if someone dies, they will be charged with murder and be sentenced.
