According to Springs police spokesperson, Capt Johannes Ramphora the incident took place at about 11.30pm.
“A murder took place at the Gugulethu Everest informal settlement late on Sunday evening, however, drama carried on into the early hours of Monday morning as the roads in the area were also barricaded and the community threatened the police.
“The community seized the three alleged robbers who they suspect to be part of the attacks on residents in the area and assaulted them, and one was able to get away.
“By the time the police were able to get into the area, they were only able to rescue another of the attacked men who was rushed to the Far East Rand Hospital for treatment, as he was badly injured and had sustained injuries over his entire body,” he says.
Ramphora says some of the community members took the third man to an open area nearby, necklaced him with a tyre and poured petrol on him, burning him to death.
“The deceased man, who was burnt from his legs upwards, was burnt beyond recognition and certified dead by paramedics on the scene.
“We are still trying to find his next of kin as we are unable to identify him.
“It is imperative for the community to know that as the police, we cannot condone this type of behaviour because if the community catches people they suspect to be doing crime, they should call us to the scene immediately,” he says.
He adds that the situation was so volatile that they had to call the reinforcement unit for backup, as they could not gain access to the scene on time to save the man, as the community was fighting with them.
The police are investigating to find out if the community’s allegations are true.
No arrests have been made, but the police have opened a case of murder and assault with intent to committing grievous bodily harm.
