Two men were assaulted and tortured for at least five hours during a mob justice incident in the Bekkersdal area on Tuesday, 20 November.
Sergeant Linkie Lefakane, Bekkersdal Police spokesperson said, “It is alleged that a 35-year-old man heard that there was a person being held captive in the Holomisa informal settlement and that he was being assaulted by the community. He went there to see and upon arrival, he was surprised to see that the victim was someone he knew. His hands were tied and he was being assaulted.”
This person then told the mob that he worked with the victim and without saying a word, they grabbed him, tied his hands with a piece of wire and began to assault him as well.
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“They were both released at about 8pm after a long period of torture. They proceeded to the Bekkersdal West Clinic where they received medical attention, and later reported the matter to the Bekkersdal Police,” Lefakane added.
Six suspects, ranging in age from 22 to 38, were subsequently traced and arrested on Wednesday, 21 November by members of the Bekkersdal detective unit. They have already made a brief appearance in the Westonaria Magistrates’ Court on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Colonel Tinus Swart, the Bekkersdal Police station commander condemned the behaviour displayed by the community and urged them to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. He also encouraged the public to report incidents such theft and burglaries to the police as they are the main causes of mob justice incidents.
“It is a criminal act to infringe on other persons’ right to movement. Anyone who commits a criminal act will be arrested,” he said.
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