Police have warned the community not take the law into their own hands after a man was burned to death in an apparent act of vigilantism last Saturday, at Alexandria Trust near Hazyview.
According to the police, two boys allegedly informed the community that they spotted a boy who went missing on August 9 walking with the suspect, who is well-known in the area.
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“The community immediately conducted a search and later discovered his body with some missing body parts in an open field. The suspect was then assaulted by the community and he was set alight and died on the scene,” said provincial police spokesperson, Brig Leonard Hlathi.
Police were alerted about the incident and upon arrival at the scene, they were attacked by the angry mob as they tried to calm the situation.
Provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma warned community members to stop taking the law into their own hands, urging people to report criminal acts to the police and let the law take its course.
“Vigilantism will not be tolerated nor accepted as a way of dealing with crime. Anyone found to have participated in such acts will be arrested and face the full might of the law”, said Zuma.
Anyone with information that may assist police in the investigation of this incident as well as tracing of the person(s) responsible for the callous act is urged to contact Col Dudu Shabangu on 082-469-2569.