PIENAAR – The lack of faith in the country’s justice system has prompted residents of this community to take the law into their own hands. This comes in the wake of burglaries which law enforcement officials have noticed are on the increase.
As a result, three alleged suspects have recently been killed in separate incidents.
Speaking to this publication, one of the residents, Mr Jerry Shilobele said, “I don’t blame those people who are taking the law in their own hands because criminals are doing as they please in the country.”
He added that suspects are arrested, only to be released on bail. “We don’t want Pienaar to be the notorious township it used to be in the past. Now people are taking advantage of the calm situation following the deployment of the police’s Tectical Response Unit.”
This comes after a house-robbery suspect was killed by community members over the weekend when he was caught red-handed.
Spokesperson for the local police, Lt Jabu Ndubane added that two people had been arrested in connection with the murder and were expected to appear soon in the KaNyamazane Magistrate’s Court.
Ndubane also confirmed that mob justice incidents were on the increase. “These days community members take the law in their own hands. They don’t call the police and it is totally unacceptable.
Those who continue to do that, will face the law. Lesitobatfola bashaya umuntfu ngenca yekutsi usolwa ngekweba lokutsite, sitobabopha, this is not a joke,” said Ndubane.
This publicatiion has also leant that two people have died in incidents of mob justice. Another two are fighting for their lives at Rob Ferreira Hospital after being brutally assaulted by community members who accused them of theft.
One of the victims who lost his life, Mr Muzi Ngomane (22), was brutally assaulted at Etigubhini section by community members. His family tried to save him and rushed him to Themba Hospital in KaBokweni but in vain.
In another incident, a man estimated to be in his early twenties is fighting for his life in Rob Ferreira Hospital after he was assaulted by the public.
Information at the police’s disposal indicated that he was taken to a nearby mountain and assaulted.
They stripped him naked and tied him up and although he tried to present his case to them, they still attacked him.