Two men burnt to death for allegedly robbing bakery in Mpumalanga

Two men aged between 25 and 35 years were burnt to death at Masoyi in Mpumalanga this past weekend, reports Mpumalanga News.

The pair, together with a third accomplice, were allegedly caught robbing a bakery delivery van when members of the community suddenly mobilised and attacked them.

ALSO READ: WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO – Man set alight in alleged Hillbrow mob justice attack

“They were caught and assaulted before being set alight, the third suspect managed to escape from the angry crowd. A shack belonging to one of the victims was also torched and razed to the ground,” said Brig Leonard Hlathi.

The incident took place barely two weeks after the community of Mganduzweni burnt to death two men accused of the murder and rape of two siblings aged five and six. The girls’ naked bodies were found in a ditch next to a stream in the area.

“The mob believed that certain body parts were missing from the victims’ bodies, but a post-mortem disproved that belief, confirming that except for the rape, the bodies were intact,” said Hlathi.

The Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Mondli Zuma urged members of the community not to take the law into their own hands, whatever the circumstances. Zuma appealed for members of the community to cooperate with the police in fighting crime.

“The problem with mob justice or vigilantism is that often the wrong people end up bearing the brunt of it. Our people are urged to exercise restraint at all times, and support the criminal justice process of the land”, he said

Police investigations continue. Anyone with information that may assist police in their investigation is urged to contact Capt Timothy Mushwana at 082 977 5870 or the SAPS Crime Stop number, 08600 10111.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.