Three Vosloorus men and a woman have been handed down a 12-year prison sentence and an additional five years each for their involvement in mob justice which resulted in the death of a murder and rape suspect, reported Kathorus Mail.
The four members of a mob were arrested last year and charged with murder, abduction and causing malicious damage to property.
The High Court in Johannesburg handed down the sentence on March 9 to accused Dimakatso Phahlele (32), Percy Tsotetsi (33), Siphamandla Motloung (27) and Jackie Tsotetsi (29).
They each received five years for abduction and 12 years for the murder of Simphiwe Gumede, who was early last year bludgeoned to death by a mob after being accused of rape and murder in Extension 28, Vosloorus.
According to the report, prior to the mob attack, Gumede had along with his unidentified accomplice allegedly ambushed Sipho Mahlangu and his girlfriend while they were on their way home from a local tavern.
They allegedly stabbed Mahlangu to death and then dragged his girlfriend to Sunrise, where they allegedly raped her.
The Vosloorus police then registered a case of murder and rape. But while police were still investigating, community members who had learnt about the incidents mobilised and stormed Gumede’s home.
He was found in his shack with a friend. The friend reportedly managed to escape the mob, but the crowd caught Gumede and started to bash, kick, hit him with steel pipes and dragged him to the scene where Mahlangu’s body was lying. The angry crowd reportedly eventually stoned Gumede to death while the family members were reportedly watching helplessly.
The police arrived and tried to contain the situation, but failed as they were outnumbered by the mob.
Be warned
In light of the sentence handed down to the four perpetrators of mob justice, Boksburg SAPS spokesperson Const Ntsako Ledwaba warned the public against meting out instant justice to suspected criminals, saying those who take the law into their own hands risk being arrested and prosecuted.
“We encourage members of the public to assist us in the fight against crime. They must always remember that suspects apprehended for any crimes should be surrendered to the police.
“Please desist from taking the law into your own hands, as those who choose to break the law and engage in mob justice will be arrested and dealt with effectively,” said Ledwaba.
Boksburg has seen quite a number of mob justice attacks, especially in the informal settlements, where several suspected criminals have either been killed or seriously injured following the attacks.
The team that had been tasked to investigate the dozens of cases is still trying to track down the suspects. If found, the perpetrators will be taken to court to face charges of murder or attempted murder.
Below are some of the cases recently reported in Boksburg:
• Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an unidentified man whose body was found at the Angelo informal settlement sports ground on October 20, last year.
• A Villa Liza man was taken to the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital after he was brutally assaulted by the community on November 17, last year.
• In a violent crime during the Christmas week holiday, police rescued a man while being severely assaulted by an angry mob consisting of about 100 Malawian nationals in Comet on Boxing Day, last year.
• A man accused of several robberies and assault in Windmill Park was, on January 8 around 3.30pm, rounded up by the community and severely assaulted.
• Two naked bodies of men believed to be victims of mob justice were in 2016 found dumped in the veld next to the Ramaphosa Clinic. They appeared to have been beaten with solid objects and stoned before they were dumped there.
• Two suspects were arrested and charged in connection with mob justice which claimed the life of a 31-year-old man in Holomisa, Windmill Park, on March 29 in 2018.
Also Read: Police investigate mob justice after man is found dead
Man beaten to death in mob justice assault
