Angry residents beat alleged ‘burglar’ to death

Police are investigating a case of murder after a 35-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by angry residents in Zone 9, in Thembalethu, in Western Cape.

It is alleged the deceased, Lonwabo Zinja, broke into a house in Tsunami Park on Sunday, George Herald reported.

One of the children ran outside and called for help. Zinja was apprehended by members of the community and beaten to death.

Police are investigating the matter, and are calling on anyone with information to contact Thembalethu Police Station on 044-802-8916.

In March, two separate incidents of mob justice in Thembalethu left three men injured.

The victims, all from Thembalethu, were saved by the police when crowds of angry residents assaulted them. On both occasions, the police used stun grenades to disperse the crowds when they refused to let the alleged culprits go.

The Thembalethu police earlier urged the community not to take the law into their own hands, saying residents must allow them to do their jobs.