Calls for justice intensify as DA and Emalahleni speaker condemn Radebe killing
Radebe was laid to rest on Friday in Lynnville, but his family still need answers with regard to his murder.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga and Emalahleni Local Municipality Speaker Cllr Nombuso Shabangu have joined growing calls for justice following the alleged vigilante killing of Vusumuzi Radebe, who was reportedly mistaken for a criminal and fatally assaulted in Lynnville on September 19.
Radebe was laid to rest on September 25.
Political leaders reject mob violence
In a statement issued on September 23, DA Mpumalanga spokesperson on community safety, security and liaison Teboho Sekaledi condemned vigilantism and stressed that criminal suspects should be dealt with through the justice system.
“There is no place for vigilantism in a democratic country governed by the rule of law. The Democratic Alliance rejects and condemns this in the strongest terms,” said Sekaledi.
The DA’s statement was issued amid reports that Radebe was allegedly attacked after community members suspected he was linked to a string of murders in Kempton Park.
According to the party, Radebe was reportedly stopped by residents who questioned him about his identity and where he lived. It is alleged that after informing them he had recently come from Kempton Park, he was assaulted and died later the same day.
While acknowledging public frustration over delays in the arrest of suspects linked to violent crimes, Sekaledi said residents could not take policing into their own hands.
“We need to stress that private individuals do not have the authority to accuse unknown people of being criminals. Our people must let the police do their job as they are trained to handle such cases,” Sekaledi said.
The DA also conveyed condolences to Radebe’s family and called on police to intensify efforts to ensure justice is served, both for Radebe and victims of violent crime elsewhere.
Speaker calls for restraint
The condemnation was echoed by Shabangu, who recently visited the grieving family before Radebe’s funeral.
According to the statement, Shabangu expressed deep sadness over the incident and extended condolences to the Radebe family.
Her comments came after she led a march against gender-based violence on September 18.
While recognising the fear, anger and frustration experienced by communities affected by gender-based violence and femicide, Shabangu warned that violence cannot be used as a response to violence.
She called on residents to remain calm and allow law enforcement agencies to conduct investigations and bring perpetrators before the courts.
“The fight against GBV and femicide must continue with urgency. But we must fight it through justice, accountability, community co-operation and lawful action, not through mob violence,” she said.
Shabangu further warned that those who allegedly participated in the fatal assault would also face investigation and should be held accountable through legal processes.
Police open murder investigation
Radebe’s death occurred after police responded to a complaint of alleged vigilantism in Lynnville. Officers found the wounded man at the scene, and Emergency Medical Services later declared him dead.
Police subsequently opened a murder case and launched a manhunt for those responsible. No arrests had been announced at the time of publication.
The family maintains that Radebe was an innocent victim who was wrongly targeted after being questioned while walking home from Kwa-Guqa.
They have described him as a quiet individual whose life was cut short because of an assumption.
As calls for justice continue to mount, both the DA and eMalahleni Local Municipality have urged residents to reject vigilantism and co-operate with police investigations instead of taking the law into their own hands.
READ MORE: SAPS launch manhunt after Lynnville man killed in alleged vigilante attack
Rights body demands swift justice
Among those who supported the family was the advocacy organisation All Voices Matter, which called for swift action against those responsible.
Founder Abongile Mcoki condemned the killing and warned against communities taking the law into their own hands.
“Every person has the right to life and the right to a fair trial. No community has the right to act as judge, jury and executioner,” Mcoki said.
The organisation has called on the SAPS to expedite its investigation, ensure all perpetrators are identified and arrested, provide regular updates to the family and make trauma support available to relatives affected by the incident.
Mcoki also appealed to witnesses and community members who may have information to assist the police to come forward.
“The family deserves justice, and the community has a responsibility to help ensure the truth comes out,” she said.
Witbank News has reached out to Mpumalanga SAPS provincial spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo for comment regarding the progress of the investigation. A response had not been received by the time of publication.
An eMalahleni family appeals for witnesses after their son was beaten to death during a mob attack apparently linked to false assumptions in Lynnville
— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) September 22, 2026
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