A mother and her son were shot dead, and a girl (12) sustained gunshot wounds during an armed robbery at their home in Barberton on Monday.

Lowvelder reports that one of the suspects is a 19-year-old woman.

She is in hospital, under police guard, after allegedly being attacked by community members.

The local police received a complaint about a house robbery in which family members had been shot at around 10:00.

The police rushed to a local hospital, where medical staff directed them to three people who had just been admitted with gunshot wounds.

“Sadly, a 43-year-old woman and her 24-year-old son succumbed to their wounds shortly after the police arrived. The third victim, the youngest daughter, remains in hospital,” says Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane.

Preliminary police investigations led to the arrest of the suspect, who allegedly committed the crimes with the help of two men.

“The female suspect was attacked by community members following the incident, while her two accomplices managed to escape.

“Community members reportedly attempted to take the law into their own hands by attacking the suspect and attempting to set her alight,” says Ndubane.

He says police arrived in time to intervene and rescued her.

“She faces charges of murder, attempted murder and housebreaking. No arrests have been made in connection with the mob justice incident, and investigations are ongoing,” says Ndubane.

Burglars necklaced by community members

Another mob justice incident took place in Barberton on the same day.

Two suspected burglars were assaulted and necklaced by community members at around 11:45.

No arrests have been made.

Mpumalanga acting police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, asked members of the community to stop taking the law into their hands.

The police have asked anyone with information that could assist in the investigation to contact Detective Captain Vusi Maphanga on 082 303 9704, or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111. Information can also be shared anonymously via the MySAPS app.

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