Spokesperson for Alex Police Station has urged residents not to take the law into their own hands as doing so is a crime and those involved hinder investigation.
Kodisang said, “After no witnesses came forward in the case of a man who was allegedly necklaced and burnt to death recently by a mob in Ext 7. The victim’s naked body was found on 22 November in Tsamaya Street.”
He said the fire was extinguished by Emergency Management Services and police officers took the body to a government mortuary.
“While citizens’ arrest was permitted, the vigilantism and mob justice was illegal and witnesses feared coming forward.”
He acknowledged an increase in the number of house robberies in the area recently including one where a man was allegedly killed trying to assist a female victim.
“Witnesses are essential to ensuring proper and conclusive investigations and they shouldn’t fear appearing in court as their evidence will ensure a case in not thrown out of court.”
He said they were also distributing whistles through the Alex Community Policing Forum for the public to use to alert others of any crime. “We also deploy more officers particularly on Fridays and the weekend.”
He urged council to assist in ensuring backrooms constructed for rentals by residents do not block access routes for police and Emergency Management Services.
Details: Alex Police Station 011 321 6721
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