Kaalfortein residents set suspected criminals on fire for terrorising community
Chaos ensued in Kaalfontein as community members confronted and fatally assaulted two suspected robbers during an attempted spaza shop robbery.
Two suspects were declared dead by paramedics on the morning of May 8. It was believed that the two were part of a gang that attempted to rob a spaza shop at the corner of Seeman and Crew streets in Kaalfontein Ext 23 commonly known as the dumping site.
According to reports, the assailants along with two other suspects targeted the shop in the early hours, aiming to carry out a quick robbery.
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They allegedly broke down a brick wall, entered the premises and began to assault the owner of the shop – the community were alerted to the cries of the owner and quickly cornered them.
Three of the suspects managed to escape leaving only one to deal with the community’s fury. He was heavily assaulted and instructed to find his assailants. Unfortunately he was unable to find any of them so he instead led them to the home of another known accomplice.
They were both heavily assaulted in an act of mob justice and they succumbed to their injuries and were set alight by members of the community.
Later police and paramedics arrived to declare both 32-year-olds dead.
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Simangele Mabhena a community member said, “It just shows how people are fed up with all the crime that is happening in our neighbourhood. People have resorted to taking matters into their own hands because even the police are failing them, a thug is taken into custody and released the next day. We have lost so many valuables and lives due to crime, I hope the thugs can see that people are tired now.”
The police strongly condemn acts of mob justice.
Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said “Acts of mob justice amount to serious and violent crimes and police will make sure that the perpetrators face the full might of the law. A team of detectives are already following all the leads to arrest accomplices. I am calling upon the members of the community to distance themselves from these acts of violence”.
Captain Nelda Sekgobela from the Ivory Park Station said that the police are appealing to anyone who might have information regarding the suspects to come forward to the station or contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or SMS the Crime Line at 32211.
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